WT/TPR/ 461 
11 August  2021 
(21-6158) Page: 1/2 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW  MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY  
SINGAPORE  
Arrangements for Review Meeting  
1. In pursuance of Article  IV, paragraph  4 and Annex  3 of the WTO Agreement, a meeting of the 
Trade Policy Review Body is scheduled for  22 and 24 September  2021 to conduct the  eighth review 
of the trade policies and practices of Singapore  (WTO/AIR/ TPR/111). 
2. This communication sets out arrangements  concerning the review meeting.  In this connection, 
attention is also drawn to the procedures for the conduct of reviews contained in the rules of 
procedure of the Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev. 4). 
3. Members' attention is drawn to the use of the "alternative" time -frame by Singapore  
for submission of written questions and responses . 
1  QUESTIONS IN WRITING IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING AND MAIN POINTS  
4. Members wishing to submit written questions to the Member under review should do 
so at least five weeks before the initial review meeting date to allow replies to be 
submitted  one w eek prior to  the first session of the meeting . For the forthcoming review, 
such questions should therefore had been with the Trade  Policies Review Division of the Secretariat 
(tprd@wto. org) by 5.30 p.m., on Wednesday  18 August  2021 at the latest . Delegations are  
informed that Singapore has opted for the traditional way of handling questions and answers . 
5. In accordance  with the rules of procedure of the TPRB (WT/TPR/6/Rev.4, paragraph 17), 
Members are reminded that they should group their written questions into the following 
three  categories so as to facilitate responses: those related to the Secretariat report (with a 
reference to relevant paragraph numbers); those concerning the Government report (with a 
reference to relevant paragraph numbers); and other questions.  
6. The Secretariat shall identify the main points contained in the questions submitted at least 
five weeks before a review meeting, post them on the Members' Website one week before the 
meeting, and distribute a revised list of main points during the first session of a review when 
questions received after the five-week deadline give rise to si gnificantly new is sues. The main points 
may be found on the Members' Websi te under "Forthcoming Meetings:  Documents for Meetings".  
2  ANSWERS IN WRITING BY THE MEMBER UNDER REVIEW  
7. Answers by the Member under review should be distributed in writing. Advance questions 
submitted by the five-week deadline before the start of the TPRB review date should be 
answered in writing by the Member under review one week prior to the start of the 
meeting ( 15 September  2021). Written answers will be made available o n the Members' 
website four working days prior to the meeting ( 16 September  2021 ). Questions posed 
subsequently should be answered, to the extent possible, before the start of the second session of 
the meeting. Questions left unanswered at the end of the s econd session should be answered in WT/TPR/ 461 
 
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 writing no later than one month after the meeting with some latitude in the Chair's discretion for 
Members reviewing a very large number of questions.  
8. In the course of the discussions at the review meeting, the Member un der review may indicate 
that it intends to provide supplementary information, in writi ng, on specific points raised. Upon 
receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all Members.  
3  DISCUSSANT  
9. In consultation with the Mem ber under review, the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body 
may choose a discussant who, in his personal capacity, will introduc e the discussions in the Body. 
H.E. Mr. Dagfinn SØRLI  (Norway ) will act as discussant  for the review of Singapore . 
4  STRUCTURE OF THE MEETING  
10. Trade policy reviews cover four broad headings:  
a. appreciation of the full range of the Member's trade policies and practices;  
b. relevant background: wider economic and developmental needs, including the external 
environment;  
c. impact of  the Member's trade policies and practices on the functioning of the multilateral 
trading syst em; and 
d. general comments by way of assessment and evaluation.  
11. Meetings take place in two sessions. The first session is devoted to the opening statements by 
the M ember under review and the discussant, and remarks and questions from the floor. 
The discussion in the second session, when the Member under review will reply to questions, is  based 
on main themes identified after the opening meeting by the Chairperson, th e discussant and the 
Secretariat in consultation with the Member.  
12. As indicated in the rules of procedure for TPRB meetings (WT/TPR/6/Rev.4, paragraph 21), t he 
speakers ' list will follow the order in which questions are rec eived by the Secretariat and in the event 
of more than one batch, the final batch will determine the order of speakers.  Delegations not 
submitting written questions will continue to speak second, in the order in which their flags are 
raised.  On the day before each review meeting, the Secre tariat will post on the WTO Members' 
website a provisional list of speakers for the first session of that meeting, for Members' advance 
information . 
5  DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS  
13. Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained i n the following 
documents:  
WT/TPR/G/ 413  Report by Singapore  
 
WT/TPR/S/ 413  Singapore : Report by the Secretariat  
14. The press embargo for the review of  Singapore  will end at 2.00 p.m. Geneva time on  
22 September  2021. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETING  
15. The record of the meeting will be circulated as a draft to Members for comments on their own 
statements and placed on the WTO website.  
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