FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY
REFORM (FFSR)
Convening Notice
The following convening
notice, dated 8 May, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of New
Zealand (as Coordinator of the Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform Initiative).
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The Fossil
Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFSR) Initiative will
hold its fifth meeting, in hybrid mode in Room W and via Zoom on 28 May, 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 Chair
2._
Update Reports
a._
Overview of key
points arising from the 26 February Ministerial Statement on Fossil Fuel
Subsidies (WTO Doc _WT/MIN(24)/19).
b._
Update from OECD on findings from the OECD Inventory of Support Measures for
Fossil Fuels 2023.
c._
Other recent update reports.
3._
Next Steps on Concrete Options (WTO Doc _WT/MIN(24)/19, Annex I)
(a)_ Pillar One: Enhanced Transparency
Action Steps:
(i)_
Steps to include information
on fossil fuel subsidies and fossil fuel subsidy reform in WTO Trade Policy
Reviews, including through questions posed by Members and in the next (8th)
appraisal of the TPR Mechanism: overview of upcoming Trade Policy Reviews
for 2024/2025 and opportunities these provide to include information on fossil
fuel subsidies and fossil fuel subsidy reform, as well as to ask questions on
these subjects (based on 2024/2025 programme of scheduled Trade Policy
Reviews); consideration of a submission from the FFSR Initiative to the 8th
appraisal of the TPR Mechanism.
(ii)_
Proposal to include fossil fuel subsidy reform as part
of a topic for more detailed sharing of experience and analysis during the
Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE)'s next (or subsequent) "thematic
session": discussion of the aspects FFSR co‑sponsors would like to
highlight as part of such a topic in a future "thematic session";
together with preparation of a short communication to the Chair of the CTE to
propose the inclusion of FFSR at a forthcoming CTE thematic session.
(iii)_
Consideration of how best to encourage
use of other WTO mechanisms to increase transparency: drawing on
information to be provided by the WTO Secretariat outlining current additional
WTO processes where information is being provided or
measures are being notified in relation to fossil fuel subsidies or fossil fuel subsidy
reform.
(iv)_
Discussion of ways to broaden the base of stakeholder
input – including business and civil society stakeholders – into the work of
the FFSR Initiative.
(b)_ Pillar Two: Crisis Support Measures
Action Steps:
(i)_
Member experience in the review, refinement and
roll-back of crisis support measures implemented during the recent energy
crisis:
(ii)_
Discussion on joint development (Secretariat and
Members) of an information paper documenting the design, review, evolution and
removal of crisis support measures – discussion based on initial outline to be
prepared by WTO Secretariat.
(iii)_
Consider timing and process for periodic review of
Members' temporary crisis support measures and their efforts to reform, reduce
and remove these, as well as ways in which the information paper (developed
jointly by Secretariat and Members) can be used in support of this work.
(c)_ Pillar Three: Addressing Most Harmful
Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Action Steps:
(i) and (ii) Examine characteristics of different
categories of fossil fuel subsidies and their effects; as well as build
understanding on pathways to reform:
-_ Presentation by TESS on its April 2024
policy paper "Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform: Options for Inclusive
Collective Action at the WTO".
-_ Presentation by IISD on its 2020 paper
"Exploring the Trade Impacts of Fossil Fuel Subsidies".
(iii) Outline of planned informal dialogue, being
organised for June, to enable deeper engagement on pillar three issues.
4. Interventions
by other stakeholders
5. Conclusion
Summary of
discussions.
Annex
Technical Arrangements
Please
note that this meeting will be held in hybrid mode (Room W and via Zoom).
2 REMOTE
PARTICIPATION
Delegates wishing to participate
virtually via the Zoom platform, including capital-based officials, must
register in advance of the meeting through this link:
https://worldtradeorganization.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcuc-yrpzouH9N7zYmpOphOwzKQ8wd3HOCS
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 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 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
consideration and their intention to circulate their written statement after
the meeting.
3 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 rooms.
4 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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