In the changing dynamics of today’s world, globalisation and sovereignty remain centrally important. Simultaneously, international commerce in the form of global value chains is playing an increasingly significant role in linking and mediating the overlap of globalisation and sovereignty. Nation-state governments use law to manage this overlap. By examining the intersection of laws regarding foreign investment and human rights, it becomes possible to gain insight into the constraints that national governments face in regard to protecting local interests while catering to the demands of global commerce. Human rights protections, after all, benefit local welfare but inhibit investment because they impose costs on companies.