TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM (TPRM)

1. TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM (TPRM) MONITORING OF TRADE POLICIES IN THE WTO WTO

2. Outline • Introduction • Frequency of reviews • Basis for reviews • Review meetings • TPRM in practice

3. I. Introduction • TPRM introduced into GATT in 1989 and confirmed in 1994 • TPRM covers trade in goods and services, and TRIPS • TPRM aims to greater transparency in, and understanding of, trade policies through regular collective appreciation of their impact on the MTS

4. II. Frequency of reviews • Two years for the quad (EU, US, P.R. China and Japan) • Four years for the following 16 WTO Members with a lesser share of world trade • Six years for other WTO Members, with a provision for a longer cycle for LDCs

5. III. Basis for reviews • Secretariat Report: the rationale for its structure; the four chapters (Economic Environment, Trade and Investment Regimes, Analysis of Trade Policy Instruments, and Trade Policy and Practices By Sector), and the summary observations • Chapter III, the core of the Secretariat Report: tariff and non-tariff measures • Government report: policy statement (on mainly trade) of 10 to 15 pages

6. IV. Review meetings • TPR undertaken by the TPRB (the economic arm of the General Council) open to all WTO Members • Meetings are chaired by the chairperson of the TPRB, and the debate is stimulated by a discussant • Meetings generally take place on two mornings

7. IV. Review meetings (end) • 1st session: statements and questions from the floor • 2nd session: replies to questions and further discussion • Meetings conclude with closing remarks (followed sometimes by a press conference) • The two reports are published in English, French and Spanish

8. V. TPRM in Practice • TPRM, forum for discussion, and for an objective and independent evaluation and “external audit” of trade and economic situation of WTO Members • TPRM provides framework for trade policy formulation • TPRM strengthens inter-agency cooperation and discussion on trade-related issues in countries

9. V. TPRM in Practice (end) • TPRM, a technical cooperation and sensitization instrument • TPRM, a link between trade negotiation rounds • Geographic coverage • Joint review as a way of increasing coverage, e.g. SACU, WAEMU, CEMAC, OECS, EAC, and Switzerland-Liechtenstein