WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/TPR/150  
11 October 2004 
 (04-4211) 
Trade Policy Review Body  
  
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM 
 
THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
 
Arrangements for Review Meeting
 
 
Communication from the Chairperson 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 25 and 27 October 2004 to conduct the review of the 
trade policies and practices of the Eu ropean Communities (WTO/AIR/2350;  and 
WTO/AIR/2350/Corr.1). 
2. This communication sets out arrangements c oncerning the review meeting.  In this 
connection, attention is also drawn to the procedur es 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 allo w time to prepare replies.  For the forthcoming 
review, such questions should therefore be with th e Trade Policies Review Division of the Secretariat 
by 18 October 2004.  All questions submitted will be made available to Members at the beginning of 
the meeting. 
II. DISCUSSANT 
4. In consultation with the Member under review, the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review 
Body may choose discussants who, in their pers onal capacity, will introduce the discussions in the 
Body.  H.E. Mr. Don Stephenson (Canada) will ac t as discussant for the review of the European 
Communities.  A document summarizing the main poi nts to be raised by the discussant will be 
circulated 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 a nd 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/150 
Page 2  
 
 6. Meetings take place in two sessions.  The first session is devoted to the opening statements by 
the Member under review and the discussant, an d remarks and questions from the floor.  The 
discussion in the second session, when the Member unde r review will reply to questions, is based on 
main themes identified after the opening meeti ng by the Chairperson, the discussant and the 
Secretariat in consultation with the Member. 
IV. DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS 
7. Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents: 
WT/TPR/G/136  Report by the European Communities 
WT/TPR/S/136  Report by the Secretariat on the European Communities 
 
8. The press embargo for the review of the Eu ropean Communities will end at 13.00 GMT 
(15.00 Geneva time) on 27 October 2004. 
V. MINUTES 
9. Minutes of the meeting will be circulated prom ptly and will be publishe d together with the 
reports by the European Communities 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 it intends to provide supplementary informa tion, in writing, on specific points raised.  Upon 
receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all Members. 
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