TRADE POLICY REVIEW TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM MECHANISM

(TPRM)(TPRM)

MONITORING OF TRADE MONITORING OF TRADE POLICIES IN THE WTOPOLICIES IN THE WTO

WTOWTO

OutlineOutline

IntroductionIntroduction Frequency of reviewsFrequency of reviews Basis for reviewsBasis for reviews Review meetingsReview meetings TPRM in practiceTPRM in practice

I.I. IntroductionIntroduction

TPRM introduced into GATT in 1989 TPRM introduced into GATT in 1989 and confirmed in 1994and confirmed in 1994

TPRM covers trade in goods and TPRM covers trade in goods and services, and TRIPSservices, and TRIPS

TPRM aims to greater transparency in, TPRM aims to greater transparency in, and understanding of, trade policies and understanding of, trade policies through regular collective appreciation through regular collective appreciation of their impact on the MTS of their impact on the MTS

II.II. Frequency of reviewsFrequency of reviews

Two years for the quad (EU, US, Two years for the quad (EU, US, P.R. China and Japan)P.R. China and Japan)

Four years for the following 16 Four years for the following 16 WTO Members with a lesser share WTO Members with a lesser share of world tradeof world trade

Six years for other WTO Members, Six years for other WTO Members, with a provision for a longer cycle with a provision for a longer cycle for LDCsfor LDCs

III.III. Basis for reviewsBasis for reviews Secretariat Report: the rationale for its Secretariat Report: the rationale for its

structure; the four chapters (Economic structure; the four chapters (Economic Environment, Trade and Investment Environment, Trade and Investment Regimes, Analysis of Trade Policy Regimes, Analysis of Trade Policy Instruments, and Trade Policy and Instruments, and Trade Policy and Practices By Sector), and the summary Practices By Sector), and the summary observationsobservations

Chapter III, the core of the Secretariat Chapter III, the core of the Secretariat Report: tariff and non-tariff measuresReport: tariff and non-tariff measures

Government report: policy statement (on Government report: policy statement (on mainly trade) of 10 to 15 pages mainly trade) of 10 to 15 pages

IV.IV. Review meetingsReview meetings

TPR undertaken by the TPRB (the TPR undertaken by the TPRB (the economic arm of the General economic arm of the General Council) open to all WTO MembersCouncil) open to all WTO Members

Meetings are chaired by the Meetings are chaired by the chairperson of the TPRB, and the chairperson of the TPRB, and the debate is stimulated by a discussantdebate is stimulated by a discussant

Meetings generally take place on Meetings generally take place on two mornings two mornings

IV.IV. Review meetings (end)Review meetings (end)

1st session: statements and questions 1st session: statements and questions from the floorfrom the floor

2nd session: replies to questions and 2nd session: replies to questions and further discussionfurther discussion

Meetings conclude with closing remarks Meetings conclude with closing remarks (followed sometimes by a press (followed sometimes by a press conference)conference)

The two reports are published in The two reports are published in English, French and SpanishEnglish, French and Spanish

V.V. TPRM in PracticeTPRM in Practice

TPRM, forum for discussion, and for an TPRM, forum for discussion, and for an objective and independent evaluation objective and independent evaluation and “external audit” of trade and and “external audit” of trade and economic situation of WTO Memberseconomic situation of WTO Members

TPRM provides framework for trade TPRM provides framework for trade policy formulationpolicy formulation

TPRM strengthens inter-agency TPRM strengthens inter-agency cooperation and discussion on trade-cooperation and discussion on trade-related issues in countriesrelated issues in countries

V.V. TPRM in Practice (end)TPRM in Practice (end)

TPRM, a technical cooperation and TPRM, a technical cooperation and sensitization instrumentsensitization instrument

TPRM, a link between trade negotiation TPRM, a link between trade negotiation roundsrounds

Geographic coverageGeographic coverage Joint review as a way of increasing Joint review as a way of increasing

coverage, e.g. SACU, WAEMU, CEMAC, coverage, e.g. SACU, WAEMU, CEMAC, OECS, EAC, and Switzerland-OECS, EAC, and Switzerland-Liechtenstein Liechtenstein