INF/IFD/W /38 
 
30 September  2021 
(21-7304) Page: 1/2 
Original: English  
 
 
WTO STRUCTURED DISCUSSIONS ON INVESTMENT FACILITATION FOR DEVELOPMENT  
NEGOTIATING MEETING OF 4 AND 5 OCTO BER 2021  
ANNOTATED AGENDA BY THE COORDINATOR  
The meeting will be held on Monday 4 Octo ber, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 
2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  (with a ten -minute break around 4:00 p.m.) and Tuesday 5 October 
2021 , from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  (Geneva time) .  
As indicated in the Convening Notice circulated to all WTO Members on 27 September  2021, the 
main objectives of this open -ended negotiating meeting are to:  
a. Continue and finalize the review of Section III ('Streamlining and Speeding Up Administrative 
Proced ures') of the 'Easter Text (Rev.1)' as a whole;  
b. Discuss Section V ('Special and Differential Treatment for Developing and Least -Developed 
Country Members') based on the 'Easter Text (Rev.1)'. In this context, participating 
Members will also be invited to d iscuss 'Draft Text' prepared by the Coordinator on provision 
25 ('General Principles');1   
c. Review provisions 21 on 'Focal Points' and 22 on 'Domestic Regulatory Coherence' in Section 
IV based on the 'Easter Text (Rev.1)'. In addition, provision 24 on 'Cro ss-border Co-
operation on Investment Facilitation' (also part of Section IV) will be discussed based on 
'Revised Draft Text by the Coordinator'2 and the recent Communication by Cambodia;3   
d. Discuss Section IV BIS ('Home State Obligations') based on the ' Easter Text (Rev.1)';  
e. Discuss Section III TER ('Transfers and Payments') based on the 'Easter Text (Rev.1)'; and  
f. Hold a conceptual discussion on the integration of the future IFD Agreement into the WTO 
legal structure on the second day, Tuesday 5 October, based on guiding questions circulated 
alongside this Annotated Agenda . 
In keeping with the Joint Initiative's ope n, transparent , and inclusive nature, all WTO Members are 
invited to attend and participate in this open -ended negotiating meeting . 
1  CONTINU ATION  OF THE REVIEW OF SECTION III ('STREAMLINING AND SPEEDING UP 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES')  
Under this agenda item, Members will continue  the review of Section III ('Streamlining and Speeding 
Up Administrative Procedures') of the 'Easter Text (Rev.1)' as a whol e. The review will resume at  
provision 1 4 on 'Authorization Procedures '.  
 
 
1 'Texts for Discussion at the Negotiating Meeting on 4 – 5 October 2021 ', restricted document without 
symbol,  dated 28 September 2021 . 
2 'Texts for Discussion at the Negotiating Meeting on 4 – 5 October 2021', restricted document without 
symbol, dated 28 September 2021 . 
3 Document INF/IFD/RD/83, page 3.  INF/IFD/W/ 38 
 
- 2 - 
 
  2  DISCUSSION O N SECTION V  ('SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT FOR 
DEVELOPING AND LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRY MEMBERS')  
Under this agenda item, Members will discuss Section V ( 'Special an d Differential Treatment for 
Developing and Least -Developed Country Members') based on the 'Easter Text (Rev.1)' . In this 
context, the Coordinator will present 'Draft Text' on provision 25 ('General Principles')  prepared 
under his responsibility . Thereafte r, the floor will be opened for Members to discuss the 
aforementioned text.  Proponents of text  contributions  under this Section will have an opportunity to 
update the plenary on the ir consultations.  
3  DISCUSSION ON SECTION IV ('FOCAL POINTS, DOMESTIC REGULATORY COHERENCE 
AND CROSS -BORDER COOPERATION ') 
Firstly, Members will have an opportunity to  review  provision s 21 on 'Focal points'  and 22 on 
'Domestic Regulatory Coherence'  based on  the 'Easter Text (Rev.1) . 
Subsequently , the Coordinator will  present 'Revised Draft Text' prepared under his responsibility on 
provision 24 ('Cross -border co -operation on investment facilitation' ). Thereafter, the floor will 
be opened for views and comments by Members , including on sub-section 2.2 of the recent text 
proposal by Cambodia .4 
 
4  DISCUSSION ON SECTION IV BIS ('HOME STATE OBLIGATIONS' ) 
Members will have the opportunity  to discuss  the joint text proposal from Dominica and Grenada  on 
'Home State Obligations' , presented at the 7 -8 September negotiating meeting .5 
 
5  DISCUSSION ON SECTION III TER ('TRANSFERS AND PAYMENTS ') 
Members will have the opportunity to discuss Section I II TER ('Transfers and Payments ') of the 
'Easter Text (Rev.1)', based on the revised proposal by Japan presented at the 11 -12 May 
negotiating meeting.6 
 
6  CONCEPTUAL DISCUSSION ON THE INTERGRATION OF THE FUTURE IFD AGREEMENT 
INTO THE WTO LEGAL STRUCTURE  
On Tuesday 5  October 2021 , a conceptual discussion on 'the integration of the future IFD 
Agreement into the WTO legal structure ' will be held with the aim of having a first exchange of 
views among participating Members on this matter . In preparing for this discussion, Members are 
invited to take into consideration the guiding  questions  prepared by the Coordinator and circulated 
alongside this Annotated Agenda .   
7  OTHER BUSINESS  
__________  
 
4 Document INF/IFD/RD/83, p. 3  
5 Document INF/IFD/RD/80, pp . 1-2. 
6 Document INF/IFD/RD/76.