WT/TPR/ 452 
 
27 November  2020 
(20-8600) Page: 1/6 
  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
REPORT OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY FOR 20 20 
Chairperson: H.E. Ambassador  Harald Aspelund  (Iceland ) 
1. This Report by the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) provides a brief asse ssment of its 
activities in 20 20. The annexed tables provide information on Members reviewed up to the end of 
2020, the programme of reviews for 20 21, and candidates for review in 20 22. 
Activities of the TPRB  
2. By the end of 20 20, the TPRB will have conducted 508 reviews since its inception in 1989 (up 
from 501 in 201 9). These took place  at a total of 396 review meetings (Annex I) and cover ed 157 out 
of 164  Members.1 Seven Members were reviewed in 2020 ( Annex II). Due to the COVID -19 
pandemic  and lockdown measures  around the world , several of the scheduled Reviews initially 
planned for 2020 had to be rescheduled  (Annex  III). The 2020 programme initially included the 
review of three LDCs, but their reviews also had to be postponed. More than half  (4 out of  7) of the 
reviewed Members opted for the alternative timeline for the Q&A process.  
3. The work of the TPRB was adjourned on  16 March 2020, as was the case for all other bodies 
in the WTO , due to  the COVID -19 pandemic. Three meetings scheduled for March and Ap ril 2020 
were suspended  (Japan, Zimbabwe, and Tajikistan). Work on the preparation of trade polic y reviews 
for other Members in the 2020 programme was affected, both in the Secretariat  and in the capital 
cities of the Member s under review,  because of  world wide lockdown measures. Despite the 
limitations and restrictions caused by the pandemic, the Secretariat was able to coordinate with the 
Members under review to conduct  the TPRB meetings of Japan (on 6 and 8 July) and Zimbabwe (on 
30 September and 2 Octobe r) using new approaches (such as online connections), and to confirm 
that the TPRB meetings of Thailand;  Indonesia;  and Macao, China will be held before the end of 
2020. Dates for the TPRB  meeting of Tajikistan are to be determined.  
4. Notwithstanding  various constraints  caused by the pandemic , the Secretariat continue d to 
prepare its reports  in close consultation with the authorities of the Members under review , and the 
reports for those rev iew meetings taking place in 2020  were delivered on time. The authorities have 
been making great efforts to provide r esponses , including documentation and data , to requests for 
information. In preparing its reports, the Secretariat also continue s its effor ts to reduce the burden 
on Members under review by using, to the extent possible, other sources of documentation, including 
Members' official websites and other credible sources. Essential elements to the process are the 
responses by the authorities to the draft reports, and visits to capitals by teams from the Secretariat. 
However, t hese visits  were cancelled due to COVID -19 travel restrictions , and the Secretariat and 
the authori ties had to find alternative means of communication and exchange of information .  
5. Efforts continue to be made to space TPRB meetings as evenly as possible throughout the 
year and , to the extent possible , to avoid clashes with other meetings at the WTO so a s to reduce 
pressure on Members.  
 
1 Members not yet reviewed by end -2020 are: Afghanistan; Cuba ( to be review ed in 2022) ; Kazakhstan 
(candidate for review in 2022) ; Liberia; Seychelles (candidate for review in 2022) ; Tajikistan (scheduled for 
2020, but suspended); and Yemen (candidate for review in 2022) . WT/TPR/ 452 
 
- 2 - 
 
6. The WTO Secretariat is working on the confirmation  of the programme of reviews for 2021 , in 
close contact with the relevant delegations. About 20 review meetings and c lose to  30 Members are 
currently on the provisional list of reviews for 2021, including those initially scheduled for 2020 and 
subsequently postponed  (Annex  III). Annex  IV provides the list of Members that are considered as 
candidates for review in 20 22.  
Coverage of LDCs and follow -up to TPRB meetings  
7. TPRs of LDCs have been beneficial to them in terms of improving their understanding of , and 
encouraging their compliance with , WTO agreements . This thus helps th em to further integrat e into 
the multilateral trading system. Of the 36 WTO least-developed Members, 33 have been reviewed 
by the end of 2020. In 2020, three  LDC Members (Myanmar, Central African Republic, and Chad ) 
were scheduled to be reviewed , the la tter two as part of a joint review of CEMAC (Economic and 
Monetary Community of Central Africa)  members . However, their reviews ha d to be postponed to 
2021 due to constraints caused by the COVID -19 pandemic.   
8. At the re quest of the Member concerned, the Secretariat organizes  a follow -up workshop to 
discuss the outcome s of the TPR with domestic stakeholders . In addition to disseminating the 
results/outcomes of the Review, the Secretariat also works closely with the Member u nder review to 
plan a workshop which  reflect s its priorities and technical assistance needs  and the concerns 
expressed by other Members during the TPR. In particular, the workshops aim at achieving a better 
understanding of recent initiatives taken , or being taken, by the Government, and exchanging views 
on steps the Government may take to address concerns raised by other Members.  In 20 20, due to 
travel  restrictions, no national follow -up workshop s were conducted.   
Monitoring of trade and trade -related measures  
9. The TPRM requires Members, in between their reviews, to provide information on significant 
trade policy changes. The Secretariat uses this and other information to prepare, on a regular basis, 
reports on the trade and trade -related developments of Members and Observer Governments. The 
information  is consolidated and presented in the Report by the Director -General on the Overview of 
Developments in the International Trading Environment, as called for by paragra ph G of Annex 3 of 
the Marrakesh Agreement. Cooperation and interest from Members in the trade monitoring exercise 
remain very positive, as noted during the discussions for the Sixth Appraisal of the TPRM and in the 
regular meetings of the TPRB on trade mo nitoring. The Secretariat continues to reach out to all 
delegations , with a view to improv ing the participation of all Members and Observers.  
10. The latest trade monitoring report covered measures taken during the period from 
mid-October 201 9 to mid -May 20 20.2 It provided information on the latest trends and developments 
with respect to trade -restrictive and trade -facilitating measures put in place by Members and 
Observers . The report also provided a full account of recent developments in the areas of trade 
remedies, SPS, TBT, agriculture, services , and intellectual property . This report was prepared against 
the backdrop of the COVID -19 pandemic , and included specific sections on measures taken in that 
context. The report provided evidence that 70% of the total number of measures recorded were 
taken in response to the pandemic. It revealed that , in the early stages of the pandemic , several of 
these me asures restrict ed the free flow of trade but , as at mid -May 2020 , 57% of all 
COVID -19-related measures were trade -facilitating. The report highlighted that the pandemic  
delivered an unprecedented shock to the global economy , and its full impact was expecte d to be 
substantial. Excluding the COVID -19-related measures, the report showed that the coverage of 
import -facilitating measures implemented during the review period was the second highest figure 
for such measures since October 2012. It also provided evid ence that the cumulative trade coverage 
of import -restrictive measures in force since 2009 continued to increase , and estimated that 8.7% 
of world imports were affected by these restrictions.   
11. The Report by the Director -General on the 2020 Overview of Deve lopments in the 
International Trading Environment is scheduled to be discussed by the TPRB on 11 December 2020.  
 
2 An informal meeting of the TPRB was held , both in person and virtually due to CO VID-19 restrictions , 
on 24 July 2020 to discuss the Director -General's Report on Trade -Related Developments contained in 
document WT/TPR/OV/W/14 . WT/TPR/ 452 
 
- 3 - 
 
ANNEX I   
TRADE POLICY REVIEWS  
WTO Members reviewed, 1989 -2020 
Europe/Middle East  Asia/Pacific  Africa  America  
Albania (2)  Australia ( 8) Angolaa (2) Antigua and Barbuda2 (3) 
Armenia (2)  Bangladesha (5) Benina, 2 (4) Argentina (4) 
Austria1 Brunei Darussalam (3) Botswana2 (4) Barbados (3)  
Bahrain, Kingdom of2 (3) Cambodiaa (2) Burkina Fasoa, 2 (4) Belize (3)  
Bulgaria1 China (7 ) Burundia, 2 (3) Bolivia, Plurinational  
State of (4)  
Croatia1 Fiji (3) Cabo Verde  (1) Brazil (7)  
Cyprus1 Hong Kong, China (8 ) Cameroon2 (4) Canada (1 1) 
Czech Republic1 (2) India (6)  Central African Republica, 2(2) Chile (5)  
European Union (1 4) Indonesia ( 7) Chada, 2 (2) Colombia (5)  
Finland1 Japan (1 4) Congo, Dem ocratic  Republic 
of thea (2)  Costa Rica ( 5) 
Georgia (2)  Korea, Rep ublic of (7)  Congo, Rep ublic of 2 (2) Dominica2 (3) 
Hungary1 (2) Kyrgyz Republic (2)  Côte d'Ivoire (3)  Dominican Republic (4)  
Iceland (5)  Lao People's Democratic 
Republica (1) Djiboutia, 2 (2) Ecuador ( 3) 
Israel (5 ) Macao, China ( 5)  Egypt (4 ) El Salvador (4)  
Jordan (2) Malaysia (7 ) Eswatini2 (4) Grenada2 (3) 
Kuwait, the State of  (1) Maldives (3)  Gabon2 (3) Guatemala (3)  
Liechtenstein2 (5) Mongolia (2)  The Gambiaa (3) Guyana (3)  
Moldova, Rep ublic of (1) Myanmara (1) Ghana (4) Haitia (2) 
Montenegro (1)  Nepala (2) Guinea, Republic ofa (4) Honduras (3)  
North  Macedonia,  
Republic of (2)  New Zealand (5)  Guinea -Bissaua (2) Jamaica (4)  
Norway (7 ) Pakistan (4)  Kenya2 (5) Mexico (6)  
Oman2 (2) Papua New Guinea ( 3) Lesothoa, 2 (4) Nicaragua (3)  
Poland1 (2) Philippines (5 ) Madagascara (3) Panama (2)  
Qatar2 (2) Samoa (1)  Malawia (3) Paraguay (4)  
Romania1 (3) Singapore (7) Malia, 2 (4) Peru ( 5) 
Russian Federation (1) Solomon Islandsa (3) Mauritaniaa (3) 
St. Kitts and Nevis2 (3) 
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of (2) Sri Lanka (4)  Mauritius2 (4) St. Lucia2 (3) 
Slovak Republic1 (2) Chinese Taipei (4 ) Morocco (5)
 St. Vincent & Grenadines2 
(3) 
Slovenia1 Thailand ( 8) Mozambiquea (3) Suriname ( 3) 
Sweden1 (2) Tonga (1)  Namibia2 (4) Trinidad and Tobago ( 4) 
Switzerland2 (7) Vanuatua (1) Nigera, 2 (3) United States of America (14 ) 
Turkey (6)  Viet Nam (1)  Nigeria (5)  Uruguay (5 ) 
Ukraine (1)   Rwandaa,2 (3) Venezuela, Bolivarian 
Republic of (2)  
United Arab Emirates (3)   Senegala, 2 (4)  
  Sierra Leonea (2)   
  South Africa2 (5)  
  Tanzaniaa, 2 (4)  
  Togoa (4)  
  Tunisia (3)   
  Ugandaa, 2 (5)  
  Zambiaa (4)  
  Zimbabwe ( 3)  
    
50 Members ( 94 reviews)  32 Members ( 140 reviews)  42 Members ( 135 reviews)  33 Members (13 9 reviews)  
The parentheses indicate the number of reviews completed.  
a Least -developed Member.  
1 Now included in the European Union.  
2 Joint review, but counted as individual Members for statistical purposes from 2009.  
Reviews conducted at end -2020  = 508 reviews at  396 TPRB meetings.  
WTO Members reviewed   = 157 out of 164.  
Least-developed WTO Members reviewed   = 33 out of 36.  
 WT/TPR/ 452 
 
- 4 - 
 
ANNEX II  
Trade policy reviews conducte d in 2020  
Member  Meeting date  Review cycle (years)  
European Uniona (14) 18 and 20 February   3 
Australiaa (8) 11 and 13 March  5 
Japana (14) 6 and 8 July  3 
Zimbabwe (3)  30 September and 2 October  7 
Thailanda (8) 24 and 26 November  5 
Indonesia (7)  9 and 11 December  7 
Macao, China (5)  15 and 17 December   5 
Note:  Figures in parentheses indicate the total number of reviews that will have been conducted by the 
end of 20 20. 
a Alternative timeline.  
 
 
  WT/TPR/ 452 
 
- 5 - 
 
ANNEX III 
Provisional  programme of reviews for 2021  
Member  Meeting dates (scheduled)  Review cycle 
(years)  
Kyrgyz Republic  Date to be determined  7 
CEMAC (Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, 
Central  African Rep.a, Chada) Date to be determined  7 
Nicaragua  Date to be determined  7 
India 6 and 8 January  5 
Myanmara, b 15 and 17 February  7 
Mongolia  24 and 26 February  7 
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of  3 and 5 March  7 
Qatar  6 and 8 April  7 
Tonga 14 and 16 April  7 
Viet Namb 27 and 29 April  5 
China  14 and 16 July  3 
Argentina 15 and 17 September  7 
Singaporeb 22 and 24 September  5 
Korea, Rep. of 13 and 15 October  5 
Russian Federation  27 and 29 October  5 
Mauritius  3 and 5 November  7 
Oman  17 and 19 November  7 
OECS ( Antigua & Barbuda , Dominica , 
Grenada , St.Kitts & Nevis , St. Lucia , and 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines ) 23 and 25 November  7 
Bahrain, Kingdom of  1 and 3 December  7 
United States of America  15 and 17 December  3 
a Least -developed Member . 
b Alternative timeline.  
 WT/TPR/ 452 
 
- 6 - 
 
ANNEX IV  
Members to be reviewed in 2022  
(Due date in parentheses)  
Member  
Angolaa 
Barbados  
Botswana (SACU)  
Brazil  
Brunei Darussalam  
Cabo Verde  
Chile 
Cuba (2001)  
Djiboutia (2021)  
Dominican Republic  
Eswatini (SACU)  
Ghana (2021)  
Guyana  
Haitia 
Jordan  
Kazakhstan  
Kuwait, the State of ( 2018) 
Lesothoa (SACU)  
Liechtenstein  
Madagascara 
Mexico  
Moldova  
Namibia (SACU)  
New Zealand  
Pakistan  
Panama (2021)  
Seychelles  
South Africa (SACU)  
Switzerland  
United Arab Emirates (2021)  
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of (2008)  
Yemena (2021)  
a Least -developed Member.  
__________