INF/IFD/W /37 
 
27 August 2021 
(21-6470) Page: 1/3 
Original: English  
 
 
WTO STRUCTURED DISCUSSIONS ON INVESTMENT FACILITATION FOR DEVELOPMENT  
NEGOTIATING MEETING OF 7 AND 8 SEPTEMBER  2021  
ANNOTATED AGENDA BY THE COORDINATOR  
The meeting will be held on Tuesday 7  September  from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and 
Wednesday 8 September 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  
(Geneva time). The Discussion Group on 'Scope' will meet in the afternoon of Tuesday 7 September 
from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., making use of the Interprefy platform (with interpretation).  
As indicated in the Convening Notice circulated to all WTO Members on 16 July  2021, the main 
objectives of this open -ended negotiating meeting are to:  
a. Hear the reports of the facilitators of the Small/Discu ssion Groups, respectively on 'Scope' 
and 'Facilitation of the Entry and Temporary Stay of Business Persons for Investment 
Purposes' (Movement of Business Persons – MBP);  
b. Discuss provision 31 ('Measures Against Corruption') based on the 'Easter Text (Rev. 1)'1 and 
the questions raised by the Coordinator at the 12 -13 July meeting  (see below) ; 
c. Discuss provision 30 ('Responsible Business Conduct') of the 'Easter Text (Rev.1)' ; 
d. Discuss Section V ('Special and Differential Treatment for Developing and Least -Developed 
Country Members') of the 'Easter Text (Rev.1)'  as well as relevant submission s not yet 
included therein ;2 and 
e. Introduce and discuss the Text prepared by the Coordinator.3 
Based on the text proposals by Dominica and Grenada  (joint proposal) and Lao PDR , the following 
two agenda items have been added :  
f. Discuss Lao PDR's proposal4 to include a provision 30 BIS on 'Establishment of supplier -
development programmes and domestic supplier databases '; and  
g. Discuss Section IV BIS ('Home State Obligations'), based on Dominica and Grenada's Joint 
proposal.5 
In keeping with the Joint Initiative's open, transparent , and inclusive nature, all W TO Members are 
invited to attend and participate in this open -ended negotiating meeting . 
 
1 Document INF/IFD/RD/74/Rev.1  dated 23 July 2021.  
2 Text proposal from Lao PDR contained in document INF/IFD/RD/81 dated 5 August 2021 , and 
Communication by Dominica and Grenada (Annex) in d ocument INF/IFD/RD/8 2 dated 9  August 2021.  
3 Texts  by the Coordinator, restricted document without symbol, dated 6 August 2021 . 
4 Document INF/IFD/RD/81 dated 5 August 2021.  
5 Document INF/IFD/RD/80 dated 21 July 2021.  INF/IFD/W/ 37 
 
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  1  LATEST DEVELOPMENTS SINCE THE LAST MEETING INCLUDING RECENT TEXT 
PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS  
Since the last meeting held on 12 -13 July, text proposals have been re ceived  from Cambodia ,6 
Dominica and Grenada ,7 and Lao PDR8 – as well as  a communication from Peru .9 The Members 
concerned (as well as any other Members having submitted a new proposal before the meeting ) may 
make a general introduction of their submission  if they so wish .  
2  INTRODUCTION AND DISCUSSION O F THE TEXTS PREPARED BY THE COORDINATOR  
On 7 September in the morning, the Coordinator will introduce the texts prepared under his 
responsibility, namely :  
• 'Revised Draft Text'  for the Preamble ; provision 1 on 'Objectives' ; provision 24 on 'Cross -
border Co-operation on Investment Facilitation' , and provision 35 on 'Dispute Settlement' ; 
and  
• Text on para graph  2.1 on 'Scope'  (Section  I) based on the  text contribution from the 
Discussion Group on 'Scope'.  
Thereafter, the floor will be open ed for Members to discuss the  aforementioned  texts. 
3  DISCUSSION ON SECTION VI ('SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT' ) 
3.1  Provision 31 ('Measures Against Corruption')  
Under this agenda item, Members will discuss provision 31 on 'Measures against corruption'  
(Section VI 'Sustainable Investment') of the 'Easter Text (Rev.1)'. In this context , Members will have 
the opportunity to discuss the recently submitted text proposa l from Cambodi a10 and joint proposal 
from the European Union and Switzerland ,11 as well as  update the plenary on their consultations.  
In preparing for this discussion , Members are invited to take into consideration the following three 
questions , raised by the Coordinator at the end of the 12 -13 July meeting  (also included in the 
Convening Notice circulated on 16 July 2021) : 
a. Proposals on measures against corruption have followed two different approaches: on the 
one hand, a general provision referri ng to internationally agreed instruments similar to what 
is currently being discussed for provision 30 on 'Responsible Business Conduct'; on the other 
hand, a provision containing more detailed, specific obligations. What are the pros and cons 
of each appr oach?  
b. According to comments from participants, there seems to be a preference for a provision 
whose scope would be limited to measures to prevent and fight corruption only. Would the 
addition of the prevention of, and fight against, money laundering streng then the discipline 
– respectively would it be desirable given corruption and money laundering are often 
addressed together?  
c. Given that several international instruments already set detailed rules on anti -corruption, 
what could the value added of addressin g this matter in the context of the future IFD 
Agreement be? Should the future IFD Agreement add to those international obligations, or 
rather support/complement them?  
 
 
6 Document INF/IFD/RD/79 dated 16 July 2021 . 
7 Documents INF/IFD/RD/ 80 dated 2 1 July and RD/82 dated 9 August 2021.  
8 Document INF/IFD/RD/81 dated 5 August  2021. 
9 Document  INF/IFD/W/36 dated 20 J uly 2021.  
10 Document INF/IFD/RD/79 dated 1 6 July 2021.  
11 Document INF/IFD/RD/78 dated 13 July 2021.  INF/IFD/W/ 37 
 
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  3.2  Provision 30 ('Responsible Business Conduct')  
Members will further discuss provision 3 0 on 'Responsible Business Conduct'  (Section VI  
'Sustainable Investment')  of the 'Easter Text (Rev.1)'  and have the opportunity to provide further 
comments on the text proposal from Turkey.12 
3.3  Proposed  provision 30 BIS on 'Establishment of supplier -developm ent programmes 
and domestic supplier databases ' 
Lao PDR will be invited to introduce its proposal on a provision 30 BIS on 'Establishment of 
supplier -development programmes and domestic supplier databases ', and Members will 
have the opportunity to discuss it. 
 
4  DISCUSSION ON SECTION V ('SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT FOR 
DEVELOPING AND LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRY MEMBERS')  
Starting in the morning o f 8 September, Members will discuss Section V ( 'Special and Differential 
Treatment for Developing and Least -Developed Country Members' ) of the 'Easter Text 
(Rev.1)'. In this context , Members will also have the opportunity to discuss the recently submitted 
text proposal s from Dominica and Grenada  (Joint proposal)13 and Lao PDR14. 
 
5  DISCUSSION ON SECTION IV BIS ('HOME STATE OBLIGATIONS' ) 
Members are invited to  discuss Section IV BIS ('Home State Obligations' ) of the 'Easter Text 
(Rev.1)', based on the Joint text proposal from Dominica and Grenada .15 
 
6  REPORTS BY SMALL/DISCUSSION GROUPS  
As the Small/Discussion groups  on 'Facilitation of the Entry and Temporary Stay of Business 
Persons for Investment Purposes' (Movement of Business Persons - MBP) and 'Scope' will meet , 
respectively,  in the afternoons of 6 and 7 September , the facilitators will be invited to update the 
plenary on their ongoing work and envisaged next steps on 8 September.  
Thereafter, Members will have the opportunity to revert to any unfinished matters from the previous 
morning . 
 
7  OTHER BUS INESS  
__________  
 
12 Document INF/IFD/RD/77 dated 1 3 July 2021 . 
13 Document s INF/IFD/RD/80 and RD/82 . 
14 Document INF/IFD/RD/81 , section 2.3, pp. 2 -3. 
15 Document INF/IFD/RD/80, pp. 1 -2.