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ICC Wants Greater Openness From Arbitrators Under New Rules 2026

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has recently shared key insights into the upcoming 2026 ICC Arbitration Rules, with one of the biggest focus areas being arbitrator disclosures and transparency during arbitration proceedings.

Under the revised approach, arbitrators are expected to disclose any circumstance that could possibly raise questions regarding their independence, neutrality, or impartiality. The idea behind the revision is simple: when in doubt, disclosure is safer than silence. The ICC believes early transparency can help reduce future objections, challenges, and unnecessary procedural disputes during arbitration.

At the same time, the ICC clarified that a disclosure does not automatically mean an arbitrator is biased or conflicted. Instead, disclosures are intended to build trust in the process and allow parties to make informed decisions from the very beginning of proceedings.

Another important feature is the growing role of parties themselves in identifying potential conflicts early by sharing relevant relationships, entities, or individuals connected with the dispute.

The proposed changes reflect how international arbitration is gradually moving towards greater openness, procedural fairness, and stronger confidence-building measures for businesses, investors, and dispute resolution stakeholders across global commercial systems today.