Summary

Source: icsid.worldbank.org

SUBMISSION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

1. Pursuant to Article 1128 of the North American Free Trade Agreement ("NAFTA" or "the Agreement"), the United States of America makes this submission on questions of interpretation of the NAFTA. The United States does not take a position in this submission on how the interpretations offered below apply to the facts of this case, and no inference should be drawn from the absence of comment on any issue not addressed below.*

Burden of Proof (Article 1131)

2. Article 1131 provides in relevant part that the Tribunal "shall decide the issues in dispute in accordance with this Agreement and applicable rules of international law."

3. General principles of international law concerning the burden of proof in international arbitration provide that a claimant has the burden of proving its claims, and if a respondent raises any affirmative defenses, the respondent must prove such defenses.1

4. In the context of an objection to jurisdiction, the burden is on the claimant to prove the necessary and relevant facts to establish that a tribunal has jurisdiction to hear its claim. Further, it is well-established that where "jurisdiction rests on the existence of certain facts, they have to be proven at the jurisdictional stage."2 As the tribunal in Bridgestone v. Panama stated when assessing Panama's jurisdictional objections regarding a claimant's purported investments under the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement, "[b]ecause the Tribunal is making a final finding on this issue, the burden of proof lies fairly and squarely on [the claimant] to demonstrate that it owns or controls a qualifying investment."3

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Contributory Fault

52. It is well established that a claimant may not be awarded reparation for losses to the extent of its contribution to such losses, and nothing in the NAFTA indicates otherwise. Article 39 of the ILC Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts provides: "In the determination of reparation, account shall be taken of the contribution to the injury by wilful or negligent action or omission of the injured State or any person or entity in relation to whom reparation is sought."98

Respectfully submitted,

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