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9. Free Trade AgreementsMexico has executed the following free trade agreements, among others:a) Free Trade Agreement with Colombia and Venezuela;b) North American Free Trade Agreement;c) Free Trade Agreement with Costa Rica;d) Free Trade Agreement with Israel;e) Free Trade Agreement with the European Union;f) Free Trade Agreement with Chile;g) Agreement to strengthen the Economic Relationship between the United MexicanStates and Japan.360C H A P T E R X X I IIn some of these treaties dispute resolution mechanisms were agreed to in favor of theinvestors that allow them to initiate investment arbitration against the State if it breachesits obligations assumed in the respective treaty. The free trade agreements executed byMexico that allow investors to initiate investment arbitrations are specified below.9.1. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed in December 1992 and enteredinto force in January 1994, in order to eliminate trade obstacles among the contracting States.Chapter XI of this agreement establishes the rules applicable to foreign investment in theterritory of the three contracting states (Canada, the United States of America, and Mexico).Foreign investment under NAFTA refers to both the investor and the investment. In thisregard, the treaty includes all types of investment made in stocks and bonds, mediumand long term loans and debt instruments among affiliate companies, tangible and intangibleproperty, including intellectual property rights, franchises and know-how, and contractualinterests or rights derived therefrom.Section B of Chapter XI of NAFTA establishes a supranational arbitration mechanism forresolving disputes between an investor and a state party to the treaty. The arbitrationmechanism seeks to ensure due legal process before an impartial tribunal.9.1.1. Standing for the investor to file a claimAn “Investor of a Party” to the Agreement may make use of the dispute resolution mechanismin NAFTA. This term is defined as “a Party or a state enterprise thereof, or a nationalor an enterprise of such Party, that seeks to make, is making, or has made an investment.”9.1.2. Violations of NAFTAThe purpose of the arbitration mechanism established in NAFTA is to resolve disputes that

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