This article explores the dispute settlement elements of the UK–European Union Trade and Cooperation Agreement’s (TCA) novel Level Playing Field (LPF) rebalancing obligations, consisting of a requirement not to lower standards in areas of labour, the environment and subsidy policy such that an adverse material impact results to trade or investment flows between the parties. The test for violations of these provisions is narrowly framed, requiring strong evidence of significant harms and carefully calibrated retaliation. The system contemplates several avenues of dispute settlement including unilateral ex ante retaliation which may be levied against another sector. The article suggests that the substantive and procedural features of the TCA’s LPF mechanism affords reasonably wide opportunity for parties to practice regulatory divergence while evincing a commitment to shared values.

中文翻译：

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经受住时间的考验：英国-欧盟贸易与合作协定 (TCA) 中的公平竞争环境和再平衡机制

本文探讨了英国-欧盟贸易与合作协定 (TCA) 新的公平竞争环境 (LPF) 再平衡义务的争端解决要素，包括不降低劳工、环境和补贴政策领域标准的要求，例如对双方之间的贸易或投资流动产生不利的重大影响。对违反这些规定的测试范围很窄，需要有重大损害的有力证据和经过仔细校准的报复。该系统考虑了几种解决争端的途径，包括可能对另一个部门征收的单方面事前报复。