L’Initiative conjointe sur la facilitation de l’investissement : éléments nouveaux depuis 2020 et feuille de route en vue de la CM12

The document provides a detailed update on the WTO's efforts to create a multilateral framework for investment facilitation. It covers the impact of COVID-19 on foreign direct investment (FDI) and governance, the evolution of negotiating texts (from 'simplified' to 'informal consolidated' and 'revised' texts), and the specific thematic areas under discussion, such as transparency, administrative simplification, and the 'firewall' provision to isolate the framework from International Investment Agreements (IIAs).

• The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) flows and led to an increase in national investment restrictions. Approximately 43% of new investment policy measures in 2020 included regulations or restrictions, often to prevent 'hostile foreign takeovers' of strategic national companies during the health crisis.
• The Joint Statement Initiative on Investment Facilitation grew to 106 signatories by February 15, 2021. The process transitioned from 'structured discussions' to a formal 'negotiation mode' in September 2020, with the goal of achieving a substantial outcome by the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12).
• Negotiators are working toward a 'Easter text' (texte de Pâques) expected in April 2021, which will consolidate previous revised texts and member proposals to serve as the primary drafting base for the future agreement.
• The proposed framework focuses on several core pillars: improving transparency and predictability of investment measures, simplifying and accelerating administrative procedures, and strengthening international cooperation. It explicitly excludes market access, investment protection, and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) from its scope.
• A critical point of negotiation is the creation of a 'firewall' provision designed to isolate the investment facilitation framework from the existing system of International Investment Agreements (IIAs) to prevent the framework's commitments from being used in treaty-based investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims.
• The framework includes specific provisions for 'Special and Differential Treatment' for developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), as well as cross-cutting issues such as corporate social responsibility, responsible business conduct, and anti-corruption measures.

APA

Baliño, S., Bernasconi-Osterwalder, N., & Campos, S. L. (2021). L’Initiative conjointe sur la facilitation de l’investissement : éléments nouveaux depuis 2020 et feuille de route en vue de la CM12. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/joint-initiative-investment-facilitation-fr.pdf

Chicago

Baliño, Sofía, Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder, and Soledad Leal Campos. L’Initiative conjointe sur la facilitation de l’investissement : éléments nouveaux depuis 2020 et feuille de route en vue de la CM12. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2021. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/joint-initiative-investment-facilitation-fr.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Baliño |first1=Sofía |last2=Bernasconi-Osterwalder |first2=Nathalie |last3=Campos |first3=Soledad Leal |title=L’Initiative conjointe sur la facilitation de l’investissement : éléments nouveaux depuis 2020 et feuille de route en vue de la CM12 |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=April 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/joint-initiative-investment-facilitation-fr.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{balio2021linitiative, author = {Baliño, Sofía and Bernasconi-Osterwalder, Nathalie and Campos, Soledad Leal}, title = {{L’Initiative conjointe sur la facilitation de l’investissement : éléments nouveaux depuis 2020 et feuille de route en vue de la CM12}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/joint-initiative-investment-facilitation-fr.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }