WTO Umbrella Grant Project on New Issues
Joint Statement Initiatives
These JSIs involve the subjects of investment facilitation, electronic commerce, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). All three of these initiatives are being developed by groups of World Trade Organization (WTO) Members.
Consortium of Partners
Our work under this project is with a consortium of partners, including CUTS International Geneva and BKP Economic Advisors. It is funded with UK aid from the UK government under the Trade and Investment Advocacy Fund (TAF2+).

Activities
We are organizing several activities under this project, including:
- Geneva-based seminars
- Regional and national workshops
- Demand-driven support to policymakers and negotiators
TAF2+ is managed on behalf of FCDO by a dedicated Fund Manager: CowaterSogema and Saana Consulting. Views expressed in the project's publication and events are the authors' own and do not necessarily reflect HM Government’s official positions or those of TAF2+.
Publications

Cooperation, Capacity Building, and Implementation Considerations of Developing Countries in the E-Commerce Joint Statement Initiative
This paper highlights ways to support developing countries to participate in negotiations and implement proposed text provisions under the JSI on e-commerce.

The State of Play for Sustainable Development in the Joint Statement Initiative on Investment Facilitation for Development
This paper examines the ways in which negotiations under the JSI on Investment Facilitation for Development consider sustainable development aspects.

Negotiating Services Market Access under the E-commerce Joint Statement Initiative: A development perspective
This brief examines the negotiations on services market access within the Joint Statement Initiative on Electronic Commerce among a group of WTO Members.

Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Key developments and update in the Informal Working Group discussions among World Trade Organization members
This report provides an update on the Informal Working Group on MSMEs' work for June–December 2020, including COVID-19's impact on MSMEs, especially those led or owned by women.

E-commerce Joint Statement Initiative Negotiations Among World Trade Organization Members: State of play and the impacts of COVID-19
This paper provides an update on the e-commerce Joint Statement Initiative negotiations among a group of WTO members, looking at developments from early 2020 onward.

The Joint Initiative on Investment Facilitation: Developments from 2020 and the road ahead to MC12
This brief provides an update on the structured discussions on investment facilitation among a WTO member group from early 2020 through February 2021.
Funded by
Latest
You might also be interested in
Joint Statement on Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises: History and latest developments in the Informal Working Group
This brief outlines the history and developments of MSME-related discussions in the World Trade Organization (WTO) context, looking specifically at MSME-related issues at the WTO as well as in other forums and contexts.
E-commerce in the World Trade Organization: History and latest developments in the negotiations under the Joint Statement
This negotiating brief was prepared for the Geneva Seminar held on January 29, 2020, on the Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) devoted to electronic commerce, which involves a group of World Trade Organization (WTO) Members.
Investment Facilitation: History and the latest developments in the structured discussions
This negotiating brief was prepared for the January 28, 2020 seminar in Geneva on the Joint Statement Initiative on Investment Facilitation.
The Proposed Multilateral Framework on Investment Facilitation
This paper examines the proposed multilateral framework on investment facilitation and how it relates to existing trade and investment agreements.