INF/TE/FFSR/CN/2/Rev.1  
 
10 February 2023 
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FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY REFORM (FFSR)  
CONVENING NOTICE  
Revision  
The following revised convening notice, dated 10 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. Issues  impacting v ulnerable populations , including : 
i. Energy security for vulnerable social groups . 
ii. Employment considerations . 
b. Economic and Social Analysis of Distributional Effects of Fossil Fuel Subsidies , 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 . 
Presentation by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)  
Presentation by the European Union  
Opportunity for Q&A and comment  INF/TE/FFSR/CN/2/Rev.1  
 
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  4. Deep dive: Development dimensions to 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 reducing fossil 
fuel subsidy costs and emissions?  
b. Development opportunities arising from transition to renewables – how are governments 
going about r ealising the se? 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?  
Presenta tion by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)  
Presentation by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)  
Opportunity for Q&A and comment  
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 n eeds in this area?   
b. What mechanisms have WTO Members developed to respond to particular needs or 
vulnerabilities arising from an energy crisis situation; and how are these kept under review 
and rolled back over time?  
c. What resources, including those of inte rnational organisations (such as UNDP, UNFCCC, 
World Bank, OECD),  have WTO Members found helpful in identifying best practice policy 
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 d ifferent 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/Rev.1  
 
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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 platform, including capital -based officials, 
must register in adv ance of the meeting through this link:  
 
https://worldtradeorganization.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtc --
hqDksHtedTn10IVoB6HhcPUUJaGn -  
 
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 resu lt 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 con sideration 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 roo ms. 
 
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 ). 
 
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