INF/IFD/W/ 18 
 
20 May 2020  
(20-3741) Page: 1/1 
  Original: English  
 
WTO STRUCTURED DISCU SSIONS ON INVESTMENT  FACILITATION FOR DE VELOPMENT  
PROPOSED SCHEDULE OF  OPEN -ENDED INFORMAL  VIRTUAL MEETINGS,  
JUNE – JULY 2020  
1.  This proposed schedule of meetings for June and July 2020 has been prepared under the 
Coordinator's responsibility with a view to making good use of time and sustain ing the momentum 
in our work  on investment facilitation for development pending the resumpt ion of in -person meetings 
at the WTO premises .   
2.  It is proposed to hold three open -ended informal meetings – on 5 June, 24 June and  
17 July 2020 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm CET  – using a suitable virtual platform (Interprefy) to allow 
delegations to share inform ation and resume thematic discussions. These three meetings will not 
serve the purpose of conducting negotiations  and, therefore, will not  lead to decision -taking or 
drafting suggestions by the Coordinator .  
3.  The first meeting , on 5 June,  will allow Members to introduce their text proposals and 
contributions1 – and the Coordinator to present the informal consolidated text2 circulated to all WTO 
Members  in April . Thereafter,  the floor will be opened for an element -by-element discussion , 
including  questions and answers  on submitted text proposals and contributions , based on the 
thematic structure of the informal consolidated text . This element -by-element discussion will 
continue at the following meetings (24 June and 17 July).  
4.  The following modalities will apply :  
a. In keeping with the open, transparent, and inclusive nature of the discussions, all WTO 
Members are invited and encouraged to participate in the  virtual  meetings ;  
b. A short non -attributable informal summary will be prep ared under the Coordinator's 
responsibility for circulation to all Members after each meeting ; 
c. Interpretation will be ensured  through the virtual platform ; and  
d. Experts from international organizations – such as the ITC, OECD, UNCTAD and the World 
Bank Grou p – will be invited to attend as observers.3  
5.  A more detailed proposed annotated agenda, as well as information about the technical and 
logistical arrangements – including detailed information on how to join the meeting  platform  – will 
be circulated in due  time ahead of each meeting.  
6.  In addition to these virtual meetings, Members are encouraged, on a voluntary basis, to exchange 
written questions  and comments on the proposals , text contributions and other submissions , before 
each meeting . Members concerned will have the possibility  to reply to the se questions  and comments 
in writing and/or orally at the following virtual open -ended meeting (s).  The coordinator will circulate 
the written questions , comments  and answers to all Members.  
7.  In parallel, Members ar e encouraged to conduct informal bilateral or small -group consultations 
on the proposals as they see appropriate.  
8.  These temporary work arrangements will be revised in light of future  developments .  
__________  
 
1 Text contributions have been submitted by Argentina  (INF/IFD/RD/42) , and text proposals have been 
submitted by  China (INF/IFD/RD/48) , the European Union (INF/IFD/RD/46) , Japan (INF/IFD/RD/47) and 
Turkey (INF/IFD/RD/49) . 
2 Document INF/IFD/RD/50 dated 22 April 2020.  
3 Experts  from international organizations  will attend the meetings  as observers , replying to questions 
or contributing in any other way  as requested by any Me mber.