INF/TE/SSD/CN/3  
 
5 July 2021  
(21-5327) Page: 1/5 
  Original: English  
 
 
TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STRUCTURED DISCUSSIONS (TESSD)  
CONVENING NOTICE  
The following convening notice, dated  5 July 2021, is being  circulated at the request of the  TESSD 
Coordinators . 
 
______________  
 
 
1.1.  TESSD will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, 19 July 2021  from 10:00 to 1 3:00 
and, if necessary, from 15:00 to 18:00 (all times are Geneva/CEST).  
1.2.  In keeping with TESSD's open, transparent and inclusive nature, all WTO Members are invited 
to attend a nd are encouraged to participate in the meeting.  
1.3.  The meeting will be held in hybrid form . All delegates wishing to attend the meeting  in person  
must register via the interactive calendar on the WTO's homepage.  Delegates wishing to participate 
virtually via the Zoom platform , including capital -based officials, must  register through th is link:  
https://worldtradeorganization.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIsdempqD4sGNM4I1NMI5Jd3eByl3Dm
5RdY 
1.4.  The Annex lays out relevant organisational and technical arrangements.  
1.5.  To guid e the discussions in the meeting, the Coordinators  propose the following agenda : 
1. Introductory remarks by the Coordinators  
2. Exchange of views on the "Draft Elements for a TESSD Ministerial Declaration at 
 MC12 " (contained in document (INF/TE/SSD/W/ 14)) 
3. Stakeholder views and perspectives  
4. Discussion of next steps  and dates for upcoming meetings  
5. Other business  
6. Closing remarks  by the Coordinators  
_______________  
 
  INF/TE/SSD/CN/3  
 
- 2 - 
 
  ANNEX  
This Annex lays out relevant organizational and technica l arrangements.  
 
1  ORGANIZATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS  
1.1.  In keeping with TESSD's open, transparent and inclusive nature, all WTO Members are invited 
to attend and are encouraged to participate in the meeting. Both Geneva -based and capital -based 
officials of WTO Members are welcome  to attend . 
1.2.  The Coordinators hav e invited a core group of stakeholders (International Chamber of 
Commerce; International Institute for Sustainable Development; CUTS International;  Forum on 
Trade, Environment and the SDGs ; Quaker United Nations Office; World Economic Forum and some 
intern ational organizations) to participate in the meeting. Stakeholders will be able to listen to the 
entire meeting but will only be invited to speak under item 3 of the proposed agenda. S takeholders 
will be required to treat the meeting as a Chatham House rul e event. As such, they cannot reveal 
the identities of speakers or attribute positions to specific delegations in any public documents.  
1.1  In-person participation  
1.3.  The meeting will be held in Room W of the CWR building. In view of current health guidelines, 
capacity in all WTO meeting rooms is fixed at 50%. Places will be allocated on a first -come, 
first-served basis. In -person attendance is limited to a maximum of one person per delegation.  
1.4.  Registration is mandatory for those wishing to attend the meeting in person. Delegates must 
register via the calendar on the WTO's homepage. The deadline for registration is Wednesday, 
14 July 2021 at 18:00 (Geneva/CEST) . A sample registration window for a ttendance at an 
in-person meeting is reproduced below:  
 
1.2  Virtual participation via the Zoom platform  
1.5.  The meeting will also be held via Zoom . 
1.6.  Simultaneous interpretation in the three WTO official languages  will be provided  on the Zoom 
platform.  
• In view of technical constraints, it is strongly recommended that virtual attendance be 
limited  to a maximum of three  persons per delegation.  
INF/TE/SSD/CN/3  
 
- 3 - 
 
  • All delegates wishing to attend the meeting  via Zoom , including capital -based officials, mu st, 
register through the following link:  
 
https://worldtradeorganization.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIsdempqD4sGNM4I1NMI5Jd3e
Byl3Dm5RdY  
 
• Please note  that the deadline to register is Friday, 16 July 2021  (12:00 Geneva 
time/CEST ). Registration will not be possible after this date.  
 
• 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  
Secretariat ( tessd @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 meeting be informed  of their 
interest in the item under consideration and their intention to circulate their written  
statement to all participants  after the meeting.  
 
1.2.1   Technical arrangements for Zoom attendance  
1.7.  Delegations are kindly requested to review and take note of the technical arrangements for 
virtual attendance as set out further below.  
1.2.1.1   Before the meeting  
1.8.  Delegations are kindly requested to review and take note of the following checklist of technical 
arrangements for Zoom attendance : 
• Ensure your device has the latest version of Zoom Client  installed.  
 
• Wired internet connection is preferable over Wi -Fi, though not required.  
 
• Check for typical noise sources: air conditioning, fans, open windows, TV sets, pets.  
 
• Have a backup device or a mobile phone for di al-in at the ready.  
 
• Keep one ope rational  microphone per room. Two or more active microphones in the same 
room may create an echoing effect.  
 
• On Windows, please restart your computer on the day before your meeting to make sure all 
automatic updates are ins talled.  
 
1.2.1.2   Joining the meeting  
1.9.  Upon registration, attendees will receive an email message from Trade and Environmental 
Sustainability Structured Discussions <no -reply@zoom.us>  containing a link to join the meeting. A 
sample m essage is reproduced below:  
 
INF/TE/SSD/CN/3  
 
- 4 - 
 
  1.10.   Please note that this link is personal and should not be shared. Attendees will receive 
reminders one day and one hour before the start of the meeting.  Please ensure that your Zoom link 
can be easily retrieved, as you will not be able to request a new link a fter the registration deadline.  
1.11.  It is recommended that attendees connect at least one hour ahead of the actual meeting.  
1.12.  For easy recognition during the meeting, a ttendees are kindly asked to change their Zoom 
display names  to: 
<DEL, LAST Name, First NAME>  
where DEL stands for an abbreviated form of your delegation or organization's name.  
1.13.  To change  your Zoom display name : 
• Click on "Participants " at the bottom of your screen. The participants list will show on the 
right-hand side of your screen.  
 
 
 
• Hover with your mouse o ver your name, select "More" and then "Rename ". 
 
• Then type your new display name using the format specified above.  
 
1.14.  As soon as attendees have joined the meeting, they are kindly requested to mute their 
microphones for the entire durat ion of the meeting unless the Chair has recognize d an 
attendee to give them the floor.  
1.15.  To mute your microphone, click on "Mute" at the bottom or your screen.  
 
1.16.  Please note that simultaneous interpretation into the three official WTO languages will be 
provided during the meeting. To access interpretation : 
• Click on the "Interpretation " icon at the bottom of your screen   
• Select the language of your choice.  
1.17.  Attendees using simultaneous interpretation should switch it off while delivering a statement . 
1.2.1.3   During the meeting  
1.18.  To request the floor:  
• Click on the icon label led "Reactions " at the bottom of your screen.  
 
• At the bottom of the window, click the button labe lled "Raise Hand"   
• Once the Chair recognizes  you to give you the floor , please unmute  your microphone  and 
deliver your statement . Remember to speak at a moderate pace to facilitate simultaneous 
interpretation.  
INF/TE/SSD/CN/3  
 
- 5 - 
 
  • Once you have finished delivering your statement, please mute  your microphone  and click 
again on "Reactions", then on "Lower Hand".  
• If you have clicked the "Raise Hand " button by mistake, click on "Reactions" and then on 
"Lower Hand" to lower  your digital hand . 
1.2.1.4   Meeting tips  
• Turn on an overhead/front light and face a window if possible.  
• Avoid backlight and frame your image and check the  background – simple/neutral is best.  
• If you are speaking: keep any visual distractions to a minimum and replicate eye  contact by 
looking to the camera.  
• Choose a quiet environment and reduce background noise (indoors in an echo -free place).  
• Use only one de vice at a time.  
• Adjust the headset (do not put the microphone too close to your mouth) and the volume of 
your headphones.  
• When taking the floor, talk directly into the microphone, without turning your head away 
and moving the microphone.  
• Speak clearly with  a normal voice when you take the floor, at a moderate pace.  
__________