INF/TE/FFSR/CN/3  
 
7 July 2023  
(23-4635) Page: 1/3 
  Original: English  
 
 
FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY REFORM (FFSR)  
CONVENING NOTICE  
The following convening notice, dated 6 July 2023, is being circulated at the request of New Zealand . 
 
______________  
 
 
The Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFSR) initiative will hold its third meeting in hybrid mode in Room  E 
and via Zoom on 18 July  2023, from 10.00 Geneva time.  All WTO Members are invited to attend 
the meeting. Please see technical arrangements in Annex I.  
 
AGENDA  
1. Introductory Remarks by the Chairs  
2. Context Update  
a. Update  on recent developments, as relevant, including reporting on SDG  12.c, preparations  
for UN SDGs Summit (September 2023), preparations for COP28 (November 2023), and 
next steps of the Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate.  
3. Temporary Fossil Fuel Support Measures  
a. Presentation  by WTO Secretariat of the factual background paper on "Tempora ry Support 
Measures and Phase -Out Best Practices" (INF/TE/FFSR/W/1).  
b. Discussion by Members, including sharing of national experiences on measures adopted and 
approaches taken to ensure that such measures are targeted, transparent, and temporary 
in nature.  
4. Overview of Current Fossil Fuel Subsidy Measures & Approaches Used for 
Classification  
a. Presentation by WTO Secretariat of the factual background paper on "Classification of Fossil 
Fuel Subsidy Measures" (INF/TE/FFSR/W/2) providing an overview of the current  landscape 
of existing fossil fuel subsidies and the ways in which they have been classified.  
b. Discussion by Members of the information provided on classification of fossil fuel subsidies, 
including ways in which such classifications can be used to identify  priority concerns from a 
trade and environment perspective.  
5. Use of Existing WTO Mechanisms to Enhance Transparency  
a. Presentation by WTO Secretariat on the nature of information provided and questions asked 
by Members about fossil fuel subsidies through existing WTO processes, taking the WTO 
Trade Policy Review Mechanism as an example.  INF/TE/FFSR/CN/3  
 
- 2 - 
 
  b. Discussion by Members of types of information they consider most useful to enhance 
transparency on fossil fuel subsidies, including contributions from Members who h ave 
provided such information as part of their Trade Policy Reviews and/or put questions to other 
Members during Trade Policy Reviews.   
c. Identification of next steps to build on this discussion to enhance transparency regarding 
fossil fuel subsidies – including frequency of support, levels of expenditure, and nature and 
design of measures.  
6. Interventions by other stakeholders  
a. Briefing on main points from the 30 June informal "Ask an Expert" session facilitated by the 
International Institute for Sustainable D evelopment.  
b. Update by stakeholders  on areas of work relevant to FFSR and reflections on ways to advance 
this work, including at the WTO.  
7. Next Steps and Preparation for the Next Meeting  
a. Discussion by Members on ways to build on the work undertaken under the Initiative to date, 
including utilising the information material generated through discussions at the previous 
two meetings and relevant background papers, with the aim to prepare concrete next steps 
under the Initiative in the lead -up to MC13.  
b. Sum up of discussions and outline of preparation, objectives and timing for next meeting by 
the Chairs.  
_______________  
 
 
  INF/TE/FFSR/CN/3  
 
- 3 - 
 
   
ANNEX I  
Technical Arrangements  
Please note that this meeting will be held in hybrid mode (Room E and via Zoom).  
 
1  REMOTE PARTICIPATIO N 
Delegates wishing to participate virtually via the Zoom platform, including capital -based officials, 
must register in advance of the meeting through this link:  
 
https://worldtradeorganization.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqdu -trT0rGNHztJqUhjcoh8CpjxfLL -Ei 
 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the 
meeting.  
 
Before the meeting : 
 
• We are available 30 minutes before the meeting to test your connection with you.  
During the meeting : 
 
• If technical difficulties result in delegations being unable to intervene virtually under a 
given agenda item, the opportunity to take the floor will be given at an appropriate 
juncture before the meeting closes. Should the technical problem persist, delegations may 
contact the meeting coordinators ( ffsr@wto.org ) during the course of the meeting, either 
to send their sta tement for it to be read out during the meeting, or to request that the 
attendees be informed of their interest in the item under consideration and their intention 
to circulate their written statement after the meeting.  
2  ATTENDANCE IN THE MEETING ROOM  
For the health protection of all, and to respect the sanitary measures in place, masks remain 
recommended in common areas and meeting rooms.  
 
3  STATEMENTS  
To facilitate interpretation, delegations are strongly encouraged to send their written statements to 
the Secretariat ( ffsr@wto.org ) before the meeting starts. Statements will also be gratefully received 
during the meeting ( ffsr@wto.org ). 
 
__________