INF/TE/FFSR/CN/2  
 
1 February 2023 
(23-0730) Page: 1/3 
    
 
FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY REFORM (FFSR)  
CONVENING NOTICE  
The following convening notice, dated 1 February  2023, is being circulated at the request of 
New Zealand.  
 
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The F ossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (F FSR) initiative will hold its second meeting in hybrid mode in 
Room  D and via Zoom on 15 February 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 Coordinator  
2. Context update  
a. Update on recent developments as relevant, including C OP27 , G20 processes, and 
Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate.   
3. Deep dive: Social dimensions to FFSR  
a. Invited speakers (tbc) to present on issues impacting v ulnerable populations , including : 
i. Energy security for vulnerable social groups . 
ii. Employment considerations . 
b. Presentation by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) on the 
Economic and Social Analysis of Distributional Effects of Fossil Fuel Subs idies, including :  
i. Who benefits most from production subsidies?  
ii. Who benefits m ost from consumption subsidies?  
iii. Fiscal costs – trade off with other public expenditure . 
iv. Options to design and target support more effectively . 
4. Deep dive: Development dimensions t o FFSR  
a. What particular issues do developing Members  have to grapple with in the context of fossil 
fuel subsidy reform?  What approaches can developing Members  take to achieve win/win 
outcomes for economic and industrial development, at the same time as redu cing fossil 
fuel subsidy costs and emissions?  
i. Presentation by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)  INF/TE/FFSR/CN/2  
 
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  b. Development opportunities arising from transition to renewables – how are governments 
going about r ealising these? What resources  are available to realise these development 
opportunities?  What measures are needed at the international level to accelerate the shift 
in resourcing towards renewables and to enable developing Members  to benefit from this 
shift?  
i. Presentation by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)  
5. Guiding questions and next steps 
a. What are the main social and development energy needs and vulnerabilities WTO Members 
have identified a need to address?  How have these needs and vulnerabilities evolved over 
time and what assessments have WTO Members undertaken of these policies, including 
any lessons learned, in adapting to changing needs in this area?   
b. What mechanisms have WTO Members developed to respond to particular needs or 
vulnerabilities arising from an en ergy crisis situation; and how are these kept under review 
and rolled back over time?  
c. What resources, including those of international organisations (such as UNDP, UNFCCC, 
World Bank, OECD),  have WTO Members found helpful in identifying best practice polic y 
approaches, including to address social and development needs and vulnerabilities?  How 
can WTO Members share information on best pra ctice approaches in these areas  consistent 
with advancing domestic and international efforts on fossil fuel subsidy reform ? 
d. What analysis, e.g. by the WTO Secretariat or other suitable international organisation s, 
would be helpful to clarify the different types of fossil fuel subsidies applied by Members 
and their scope  and purpose, together with any information on trends in relation to these 
different types of subsidies over time?   
6. Interventions by other stakeholders  
a. Other stakeholders are invited to provide updates on areas of work relevant to FFSR and 
offer any reflections on options for advancing this work at the WTO . 
7. Closing and information on the next meeting  
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  INF/TE/FFSR/CN/2  
 
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  ANNEX I  
Technical Arrangements  
Please note that this meeting will be held in hybrid mode ( Room D and via Zoom).  
 
REMOTE PARTICIPATION  
Delegates wishing to participate virtually via the Zoom pla tform, including capital -based officials, 
must register in advance of the meeting through this link:  
 
https://worldtradeorganization.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtc --
hqDksHtedTn10IVoB6HhcPUUJaGn -  
 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation ema il 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 statement 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.  
 
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.  
 
STATEMENTS  
To facilitate int erpretation, 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 ). 
 
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