Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) is a neutral, international arbitration procedure. Like other forms of commercial, Labor, or judicial arbitration, ISDS seeks to provide an impartial, law-based approach to resolve conflicts. Various forms of ISDS are now a part of over 3,000 agreements worldwide, of which the United States is party to 50. Though ISDS is invoked as a catch all term, there are a wide variety of differences in scope and process. ISDS in U.S. trade agreements is significantly better defined and restricted than in other countries’ agreements. (Source: https://ustr.gov/)

Related Definitions: the Dispute Resolution Process