INF/IFD/W/3 2 
 
13 April 2021  
(21-3060) Page: 1/2 
Original: English  
 
WTO STRUCTURED DISCUSSIONS ON INVESTMENT FACILITATION FOR DEVELOPMENT  
NEGOTIATING MEETING OF 19 AND 23 APRIL 2021 
ANNOTATED AGENDA BY THE COORDINATOR  
As indicated in the Convening Notice circulated to all WTO Members on 31 March 2021 , the main 
objectives of this open -ended negotiating  meeting are to:  
a. Hold a first general discussion of the Co nsolidated Document  ('Easter Text')1; 
b. Discuss text proposals a nd contributions submitted by Members since the last meeting;   
c. Hear from the facilitators of the discussion/small groups about their ongoing /planned  work;  
d. Hold a discussion on the possible inclusion of a 'Most -Favoured Nation' treatment clause in 
the futu re Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement;  
e. Discuss  the financial exceptions; and  
f. Hold a  debriefing session on the state -of-play of the investment facilitation for development 
negotiations for international organizations  (see "text box" below). 
In keeping with the Joint I nitiative 's open, transpar ent, and inclusive nature , all WTO Members are 
invited to attend and participate  in this open -ended negotiating meeting.  
1  GENERAL DISCUSSION OF THE CONSOLIDATED DOCUMENT   
Under this agenda item, the Coordinator will introduce the Consolidated Document  ('Easter Text'). 
Thereafter, the floor will  be opened for Member s for a general discussion on the 'Easter Text '.  
2  REPORTS BY SMALL/DISCUSSION GROUPS  
The facilitators of the small/d iscussion groups will be invited to debrief Members about ongoing / 
planned work and envisaged  next steps.  
DEBRIEFING SESSION FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS  
As announced, a 90-minute  debriefing session for international organizations  (IOs) will be 
held on  Monday 19 April from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m . CET (Geneva time). Our work will be 
adjourned for the time of that session and will resume thereafter.  
The session aims to update IOs on the state -of-play of the ongoing negotiations as well as learn 
from them about their ongoing work on investment facilitation related matters that could be useful 
for our negotiations. The following IOs have been invited: International Trade Centre (ITC), 
International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organisation for Economic Co -operation and De velopment 
(OECD), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Bank Group, 
and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat .  
 
1 Consolidated Document  by the Coordinator ( 'Easter Text' ) prepared pursuant to the work plan 
endorsed by participating Members at the meeting held on 25 -26 January 2021, circulated to all Members  in 
document INF/IFD/RD/74 dated  12 April 2021.  INF/IFD/W/ 32 
 
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  The session will start with a report by the Coordinator on the s tate-of-play of the negotiations  – 
followed by a discussion between IO representative s and WTO Members participating in the IFD 
initiative.  Thereafter, each IO will be given 4 minutes to inform about their activities related to 
investment facilitation . The session will conclu de with the possibility for WTO Members to pose 
questions to the IO representatives and an ensuing free -flow discussion.  
 
3  ISSUE -SPECIFIC DISCUSSIONS  
3.1  Transparency of investment measures  (Section I 'Easter Text')  
The discussion on the specific transparency  provisions will be based on the  related text proposal 
contained in document INF/IFD/RD/73 dated 7 April 2021 . 
3.2  'Most -Favoured Nation' Treatment Clause (Section I 'Easter Text ')  
Members will have the opportunity to hold an informal discussion on the inclus ion of a Most -Favoured 
Nation (MFN) treatment clause in the future IFD Agreement based on guiding questions by the 
Coordinator (forthcoming) . 
3.3  Financial Exceptions (Section VII 'Easter Text ') 
Members will have the opportunity to discuss paragraphs 2.7 and 2.82 of the financial exceptions 
contained in the "text box" under element 34 in Section VII of the 'Easter Text '. Details will follow 
shortly.   
4   ORGANIZATION OF WORK AND PROPOSED SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS FOR THE SECOND 
HALF OF 2021  
The Coordinator will initiate a dialogue with Members on how to best prioritize work on outstanding 
issues in the run -up to MC12.  
5   OTHER BUSINESS  
__________  
 
2 Para. 2.7: "Where such measures d o not conform with the provisions of this framework, they shall not 
be used as a means of avoiding the Member's commitments or obligations under the framework. " 
Para. 2.8: "Nothing in the framework applies to non -discriminatory measures of general application in 
pursuit of monetary and related credit policies or exchange rate policies. "