INF/TE/SSD/CN/5  
 
25 October 2021 
(21-8079) Page: 1/5 
  Original: English  
 
TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STRUCTURED DISCUSSIONS (TESSD)  
CONVENING NOTICE  
The following Convening Notice , dated  25 October  2021,  is being circulated at the request of the  
TESSD Coordinators . 
_______________  
 
 
1.1.  TESSD will hold its next regular meeting on:  
• Thursday, 4 November  2021 from 1 0:00 to 1 3:00 (Geneva/CE ST). 
 
1.2.  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.  
1.3.  The meeting will be held in hybrid form. All delegates wishing to attend the meeting in person  
in Room W  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 
this link:  
https://worldtradeorganization.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcodemorD8tEtEon7YVwz6wzb2KH8KvS
Udw 
 
1.4.  The Annex lays out r elevant organi zational 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. Presentation of Draft TESSD Ministerial Statement (IN F/TE/SSD/W/14/Rev.2) and 
exchange of views by Members  
 
3. Stakeholder views and perspectives  
4. Update on event planned for MC12  
5. Other business  
6. Concluding remarks by the Coordinators  
 
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  ANNEX  
This Annex lays out relevant organizational and technical 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 provide their views and perspectives under item 3 of the proposed 
agenda.  
1.2  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 f ixed 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 t he calendar on the WTO's homepage. The deadline for registration is Wednesday , 
3 November 2021 at 18:00 (Geneva/CEST) . A sample registration window for attendance at an 
in-person meeting is reproduced below:  
 
1.3  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.  
 
• All delegates wishing to attend the meeting  via Zoom , including capital -based officials, must,  
register through the following link:  
 
https://worldtradeorganization.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcodemorD8tEtEon7YVwz6wzb2KH8KvS
Udw 
 
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  • Please note that the deadline to register is Wednesday , 3 November  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 consi deration and their intention to circulate their written 
statement to all participants after the meeting.  
 
1.3.1   Technical arrangements for Zoom attendance  
1.7.  Delegations are kindly requested to review and take note of the technical arrangements for 
virtual attendan ce as set out further below.  
1.3.1.1   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 dial -in at the ready.  
 
• Keep one operational 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 me eting to make sure all 
automatic updates are installed.  
 
1.3.1.2   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 meet ing. A 
sample m essage is reproduced below:  
 
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 lin k after the registration deadline.  
1.11.   It is recommended that attendees connect at least one hour ahead of the actual meeting.  
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  1.12.   For easy recognition during the meeting, attendees are kindly asked to change their Zoom 
display names to:  
<DEL, LAST Name, First NAM E> 
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 duration 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 bo ttom 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 o f your choice.  
1.17.   Attendees using simultaneous interpretation should switch it off while delivering a statement.  
1.3.1.3   During the meeting  
1.18.   To request the floor:  
• Click on the icon labelled " Reactions " at the bottom of your screen.  
 
• At the bottom of the window, click the button labelled "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 
interpretat ion. 
• 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 dig ital hand.  
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  1.3.1.4   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 device at a time.  
• Adjust the headset (do not put the microphone too close to your mouth) and the volume of 
your headphone s. 
• 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.  
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