INF/IFD/W /34 
 
9 June 2021 
(21-4769) Page: 1/3 
Original: English  
 
WTO STR UCTURE D DISCUSSIONS ON INVESTMENT FACILITATION FOR DEVELOPMENT  
NEGOTIATING MEETING OF 15 AND 16 JUNE  2021 
ANNOTATED AGENDA BY THE COORDINATOR  
As indicated in the Convening Notice circulated to all WTO Members on 4 June  2021, the main 
objectives of this open -ended negotiating  meeting are to:  
a. Hear the reports of the facilitators of the Small/Discussion Groups, respectively on 'Scope' 
and 'Facilita tion of the Entry and Temporary Stay of Business Persons for Investment 
Purposes' (Movement of Business Persons – MBP);   
b. Continue the discussion on a 'Transfers and Payments' provision, based on the revised 
proposal by Japan presented at the 11 -12 May nego tiating meeting;  
c. Discuss text prepared by the Coordinator on provision 4 ('MFN Treatment') based on the 
proposals contained in 'text boxes' under provision 4 in the Easter Text, the proposal on an 
MFN Treatment Provision by the European Union , and discussi ons held notably at the 
meeting on 11 -12 May 2021;   
d. Discuss a revised version of Section II of the Easter Text ('Transparency of Investment 
Measures') prepared by the Coordinator;  
e. Discuss a revised version of provision 30 ('Responsible Business Conduct') i n Section VI of 
the Easter Text prepared by the Coordinator;  
f. Review Section III ('Streamlining and Speeding Up Administrative Procedures') of the Easter 
Text1 as a whole; and  
g. Discuss provision 35 on 'Dispute Settlement' contained in Section VII ('Institut ional 
Arrangements and Final Provisions') of the Easter Text.  
In keeping with the Joint I nitiative 's open, transpar ent, and inclusive nature , all WTO Members are 
invited to attend and participate  in this open -ended negotiating meeting . 
1  REPORTS BY SMALL/DISCUSSION GROUPS  
The facilitators of the Small/Discussion groups , respectively on 'Scope' and 'Facilitation of the Entry 
and Temporary Stay of Business Persons for Investment Purposes' (Movement o f Business Persons 
- MBP), will be invited to  update  the plenary  on their ongoing work and envisaged next steps.  
 
2  CONTINUATION OF THE DISCUSSION ON 'TRANSFERS AND PAYMENTS' PROVISION   
Members will continue their discussions on a 'Transfers and Payments' pr ovision, based on the 
revised proposal by Japan presented at the 11 -12 May negotiating meeting .2 
 
 
1 Consolidated Document by the Coordinator ('Easter Text'), document INF/IFD/RD/74 of 12 April 2021.  
2 Revised Proposal by Japan on Transfers, document INF/IFD/RD/76 dated 10 May 2021 . INF/IFD/W/ 34 
 
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  3  DISCUSSION OF TEXT ON 'MOST -FAVOURED NATION' (MFN) TREATMENT  PREPARED BY 
THE COORDINATOR  
The Coordinator will present  draft text on provision 4  'MFN treatment' ,3 based on  the proposal for 
an MFN Treatment provision by the European Union4, the text proposals contained in the 'text boxes' 
under provision 4 ('Most-Favoured Nation Treatment ') of the Easter Text, and discussions held at 
the meeting s on 19 and 23, and 30 April, as well as on 11 and 12 May 2021.  Thereafter, the floor 
will be opened for a discussion based on the above -mentioned text  prepared by the Coordinator .  
 
4  DISCUSSION OF A REVISED VERSION OF SECTION II OF THE EASTER TEXT  PREPARED 
BY THE  COORDINATOR  
The Coordinator will introduce  a revised version of Section II of the Easter Text ('Transparency of 
investment measures') , which he has prepared based on the discussion s held at the meeting on 11 
and 12 May 2021 .5 Following a brief introduction, the floor will be opened to hear Members' views 
on the  revised  version of Section II . 
 
5  DISCUSS ION OF  A REVISED VERSION OF PROVISION 30 'RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS 
CONDUCT' PREPARED BY THE COORDINATOR  
The Coordinator will present a revised version of provision 30  on 'Responsible Business Conduct'  in 
Section VI of the Easter Text , which he has prepared based on the discussion held at the meeting 
on 11 and 12 May 2021 .6 Following a brief introduction, the floor will be opened to hea r Members' 
views on the  above -mentioned revised version of the provision .  
 
6  REVIEW OF SECTION III ('STREAMLINING AND SPEEDING UP ADMINISTRATIVE 
PROCEDURES')  
Under this agenda item, Members will have the opportunity to review , as a whole , the 'plain text'  
contained  in Section I II ('Streamlining and  speeding up administrative procedures')  of the Easter 
Text. 
7  DISCUSSION OF PROVISION 35 'DISPUTE SETTLEMENT'  
Members will discuss provision 35 'Dispute settlement', based on the text contained under provision 
35 ('Dispute Settlement') in Section VII ('Institutional arrangements and final provisions') of the 
Easter Text.  
 
8  OTHER BUSINESS  
  
 
3 Text on MFN treatment prepared by the Coordinator  (forthcoming ). 
4 Proposal by the European Union, document INF/IFD/RD/75 dated 29 April 2021.  
5 The revised version of Section II  of the Easter Text has been circulated to all Members on 8 June 2021  
(document without document symbol) . 
6 Revised version of provision 30 ('Responsible Business Conduct')  (forthcoming ). INF/IFD/W/ 34 
 
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  DEDICATED SESSION  ON 
IMPLEMENTATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  AND CAPACITY BUILDING  
As announced, a dedicated session  on implementation, technical assistance and capacity 
building  will take place in the afternoon  of Tuesday 15 June from  2:00 to 6:00 p.m. CET 
(Geneva time).   
The session will comprise two successive panels,  with a five -minute break in between them:  
2:00-3:45 p.m . Panel on "Lessons learnt from the TFA implementation"  
3:50-6:00 p.m . Panel  on "Lessons learnt from international organizations active in the 
implementation of investment facilitation reforms/measures"  
The objective of the session is to provide Members with practical insights related to 
implementation , technical assistance and capacity building in the context of the discussions on 
the elements to be included in Section V of the Easter Text ('Special and differential treatment for 
developing and least -developed country Members').  
The first panel , moderated  by Mr. Joel Richards7, will focus on the  implementation of the Trade 
Facilitation Agreeme nt, with experts from Members , as well as from the World Bank Grou p and  
the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation shar ing their views and experience . Members participating 
in the meeting are strongly encouraged to  take the floor to  share their experience s in the TFA 
context,  as recipients or as donors . 
The second panel , moderated by Mr. Karl Sauvant8, will benefit from first-hand insights from 
representatives  of leading International Organizations with concrete experience in helpin g 
developing countries and least developed countries implement investment facilitation 
reforms/measures . Representatives from the  World Bank Group (WBG) , United Nations 
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) , International Trade Centre (ITC), Organis ation 
for Economic Co -operation and Development (OECD), Inter -American Development Bank (IDB) , 
and the World Economic Forum (WEF)  will participate in the panel.  
A more detailed programme of the dedicated session will be sent to all WTO Members in due 
course.  
 
__________  
 
7 Senior Technical Specialist  on Trade , Permanent Delegation of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean 
States  (OECS) in Geneva.  
8 Resident Senior Fellow, Columbia University/Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) .