Case Details

China Machinery Engineering Corporation v. Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ICSID Case No. ARB/23/8)

Subject of Dispute:

Steel industry project
Economic Sector:

Other Industry
Instrument(s) Invoked:

BIT China - Trinidad and Tobago 2002
Applicable Rules:

ICSID Convention - Arbitration Rules

(a) Original Proceeding

Claimant(s)/Nationality(ies):

China Machinery Engineering Corporation (Chinese)
Respondent(s):

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidadian/Tobagonian)
Date Registered:

April 6, 2023
Date of Constitution of Tribunal:

January 10, 2024

Composition of Tribunal

President:

Juliet BLANCH (British) - Appointed by Co-Arbitrators
Arbitrators:

David R. HAIGH (Canadian) - Appointed by the Claimant(s)
David HOPE (British) - Appointed by the Respondent(s)

Party Representatives

Claimant(s):

Clifford Chance London, U.K., Perth, Australia, Shanghai and Beijing, China
Respondent(s):

Reginald T.A. Armour SC Attorney General & Minister of Legal Affairs
Tenille Ramkissoon Director, Legal
Government of Trinidad and Tobago Office of the Attorney General & Legal Affairs
Charles Russell Speechlys, London, U.K.
Language(s) of Proceeding:

English
Status of Proceeding:

Pending
Latest Development:

April 16, 2026 - The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 5 concerning production of documents.

(a) Original Proceeding

Published Decisions

Request for Arbitration

Claimant’s Observations on Bifurcation

Respondent’s Observations on Bifurcation

Procedural Order No. 1

Procedural Order No. 2

Procedural Order No. 3

Claimant’s Memorial and Annexes

Respondent’s Counter-Memorial and Memorial

Procedural Order No. 4 and Annex

Available on the ICSID Website

Request for Arbitration (March 27, 2023) English (Original)

Claimant’s Observations on Bifurcation (April 10, 2024) English (Original)

Respondent’s Observations on Bifurcation (April 10, 2024) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 1 (May 22, 2024) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 2 (May 22, 2024) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 3 (May 22, 2024) English (Original)

Claimant’s Memorial and Annexes (November 12, 2024) English (Original)

Respondent’s Counter-Memorial and Memorial (May 30, 2025) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 4 and Annex (October 10, 2025) English (Original)

(a) Original Proceeding

Date	Development
April 6, 2023	The Secretary-General registers a request for the institution of arbitration proceedings.
August 4, 2023	Following appointment by the Claimant, David R. Haigh (Canadian) accepts his appointment as arbitrator.
August 10, 2023	Following appointment by the Respondent, David Hope (British) accepts his appointment as arbitrator.
January 10, 2024	Following appointment by her co-arbitrators pursuant to the parties’ agreement, Juliet Blanch (British) accepts her appointment as presiding arbitrator.
January 10, 2024	The Tribunal is constituted in accordance with Article 37(2)(b) of the ICSID Convention. Its members are: Juliet Blanch (British), President, appointed by her co-arbitrators pursuant to the parties’ agreement; David R. Haigh (Canadian), appointed by the Claimant; and David Hope (British), appointed by the Respondent.
March 22, 2024	The Claimant files a request to address quantum in a separate phase of the proceeding.
April 10, 2024	The Parties file observations on the request to address quantum in a separate phase of the proceeding.
April 24, 2024	The Tribunal holds a first session by video conference.
May 22, 2024	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 1 concerning procedural matters.
May 22, 2024	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 2 concerning transparency and confidentiality.
May 22, 2024	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 3 concerning the Claimant’s’ request to address quantum in a separate phase of the proceeding.
November 12, 2024	The Claimant files a memorial on jurisdiction and the merits.
May 30, 2025	The Respondent files a counter-memorial on the merits and a memorial on jurisdiction.
September 12, 2025	Following exchanges between the parties, the Claimant files a request for the Tribunal to decide on production of documents.
October 2, 2025	The Respondent files observations on the Claimant’s request for the Tribunal to decide on production of documents.
October 6, 2025	The Claimant files a response to the Respondent’s observations of October 2, 2025.
October 10, 2025	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 4 concerning production of documents.
April 16, 2026	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 5 concerning production of documents.