WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/TPR/67
27 August 1999
(99-3568)
Trade Policy Review Body
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM
THE PHILIPPINES
Arrangements for Review Meeting
Communication from the Chairman of the Trade Policy Review Body
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 27 and 29 September 1999 to conduct the second
review of the trade policies and practices of the Philippines (WTO/AIR/1153).
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).
I. QUESTIONS IN WRITING IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING
3. Members wishing to submit written questions to the Member under review should do so at
least one week before the review meeting to allow time to prepare replies. For the forthcomingreview, such questions should therefore be with the Trade Policies Review Division of the Secretariat
by Monday, 20 September 1999.  All questions submitted will be made available to Members at the
beginning of the meeting.
II. DISCUSSANTS
4. In consultation with the Member under review, the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review
Body may choose discussants who, in their personal capacity, will introduce the discussions in the
Body.  H.E. Mrs. Silvia Avila Seifert (Bolivia) and Mr. Yair Shiran (Israel)  will act as discussants for
the review of the Philippines. A document summ arizing the main points to be raised by the
discussants will be circulated one week in advance of the meeting.
III. STRUCTURE OF THE MEETING
5. 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 system;  and
(d) general comments by way of assessment and evaluation.
./.WT/TPR/67
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6. Meetings take place in two sessions.  The first session is devoted to the opening statements by
the Member under review and the discussants, 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 meetin g by the Chairman, discussants and Secretariat in
consultation with the Member.
IV. DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS
7. Reports by the Members under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following
documents:
WT/TPR/G/59 Report by the Government of the Philippines
WT/TPR/S/59 The Philippines: Report by the Secretariat
8. The press embargo for the review of the Philippines will end at 13.00 GMT (15.00 Geneva
time) on 29 September 1999.
V. MINUTES
9. Minutes of the meeting will be circulated promptly and will be published together with the
report by the Philippines and the Secretariat.
VI. ANSWERS IN WRITING BY THE MEMBER UNDER REVIEW
10. In the course of the discussions at the review  meeting, the Member under review may indicate
that they intend to provide supplementary information, in writing, on specific points raised.  Upon
receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all Members
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