WT/TPR/488  
 
5 December 2022  
(22-8999) Page: 1/8 
  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
REPORT OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY FOR 202 2 
Chairperson: H.E. Ángel Villalobos Rodríguez  (Mexico)  
1. This Report by the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) provides a brief assessment of its 
activities in 202 2. The annexed tables provide information on Members reviewed up to the end of 
2022, the programme of reviews for 202 3, and candidates for review in 202 4. 
Activities of the TPRB  
2. By the end of 202 2, the TPRB will have conducted 550 reviews1 since its inceptio n in 1989 
(Annex  I), covering 159  out of 164  Members.2 Sixteen Members were reviewed in 2022, including 
one least developed country (LDC) (Annex  II). Four Members opted for the alternative timeline for 
the Q&A process.  
3. Notwithstanding various  and continu ed constraints caused by the pandemic, t he Secretariat 
prepare d its reports in close consultation with the authorities of the Members under review, and the 
reports for those review meetings taking place in 2022 were delivered on time. The authorities have 
been making great efforts to respond to requests for information . In preparing its reports, the 
Secretariat also continue d its efforts 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 of the process are the responses by the authorities to the draft 
reports, and visits to capitals by teams from the Secretariat. In 2022, most in -person visits were 
resumed, and thus the Secretariat teams were able to communicate directly with officials in capital, 
as COVID -19-related travel restrictions were lifted gradually in most WTO Members. Virtual 
communication also continued, particularly at the beginning of the TPR preparation  process , as an 
alternative means of communication and exchange of information between the Secretariat teams 
and the authorities.  
4. Efforts continue to be made to schedule  TPRB meetings evenly throughout the year and, to 
the extent possible, avoid clashes with other meetings at the WTO so as to reduce pressure on 
Members.  Some TPRB meetings had to be postponed due to the rescheduling of MC12 for June 2022.  
5. The WTO Secretariat is  working on the confirmation of the programme of reviews for 2023, in 
close contact with the relevant delegations. The programme for 2023 comprises 17 meetings, 
covering 30 Members (Annex  III). Annex  IV provides the list of Members that are considered as 
candidates for review in 2024.  
6. The Seventh Appraisal of the TPRM started in September 2022 and four informal meetings of 
the TPRB have been held so far.  
 
1 To more accurately reflect the number of times each Member has been reviewed, reviews are counted 
individually (regardless of joint meeting or joint report), resulting in a change to the total number of reviews.  
2 Members not yet reviewed by end -2022 are Afghanistan  (to be reviewed in 2024); Cuba  (to be 
reviewed in 2024); Kazakhstan ( to be review ed in 2024); Liberia (scheduled for review in 2023); and Yemen 
(to be reviewed in 2024 ). WT/TPR/488  
 
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  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 them to further integrate into 
the multilateral trading system. Of the current 35  WTO least -developed Members3, 32 had been 
reviewed by the end of 2022. In 202 2, one LDC Member, Djibouti , was reviewed.  
8. At the request of the Member concerned, the Secretariat organizes a follow -up workshop to 
discuss the outcomes of the TPR with domestic stakeholders . The Secretar iat works  closely with the 
Member under review to plan a workshop that not only  disseminat es the results/outcomes of the 
Review, but also  reflects the Member's priorities and technical assistance needs and the concerns 
expressed by other Members during the TPR. 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 2022, no national follow -up 
workshops were conducted.  
Monitoring of trade and trade -related measures  
9. The TPRM requires Members, between their reviews, to provide information on significant 
trade policy changes. The Secretariat uses this and other information to prepare 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, according to paragraph G of Annex  3 to the Marrakesh 
Agreement. Cooperation and interest from Members in the trade monitoring exercise remain very 
positive, as noted in the regular meet ings of the TPRB on trade monitoring. The Secretariat continues 
to reach out to all Members and Observers with a view to improving the ir participation . 
10. The latest Trade Monitoring Report covered measures taken from mid -October 2021 to 
mid-May 2022.4 It also referred briefly to the outcomes of the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) 
concluded successfully on 17  June 2022.  
11. The Report showed that 66% of the 436 COVID -19-related trade measures implemented by 
Members and Observers on goods since the outbreak of the pandemic were of a trade -facilitating 
nature, while the remaining 34% could be considered trade -restrictive. Export restrictions accounted 
for 82% of all COVID -19 trade -restrictive measures. During the review period , Members continued 
to repeal measure s implemented in response to the pandemic. The estimated trade coverage of the 
COVID -19 trade -facilitating measures still in place (USD  149.7  billion ) was larger than that of trade 
restrictions (USD  99.8 billion ). Since last year, t he numbers of newly intr oduced COVID -19-related 
trade measures in the areas of goods and services have declined drastically.  
12. With respect to regular measures, Members and Observers introduced 230 new 
trade-facilitating and 109 trade -restrictive measures. The trade coverage of the import -facilitating 
measures was estimated at USD  603.2  billion  and that of import -restrictive measures at 
USD 23.5 billion . Trade remedy actions remain an important trade policy tool for Members, although 
the number of trade remedy initiat ions decline d from the 2021 level. Members and Observers 
introduced 93 new regular measures affecting trade in services, the majority of which were 
trade-facilitating. More than half of the measures concerned telecommunications, and computer -, 
Internet -, and other network -enabled services.  
13. Members discussed the 2022 Trade Policy Monitoring Report during an informal meeting on 
27 July 2022 and proposed changes to improve the process and ensure the Report reflects Members' 
priorities and interests. The Secret ariat will continue to work closely with Members to address their 
concerns and increase Member participation with this exercise.  
 
3 Vanuatu was an LDC at the time of its review in 2018, but graduated from  LDC status in 2020.  
4 An informal meeting of the TPRB was held , both in person and virtually due to COVID -19 restrictions , 
on 27 July 2022 to discuss the Director -General's Report on Trade -Related Developments contained in 
WTO documents WT/TPR/OV/W/16  and WT/TPR/OV/W/16/Add.1, 13  July 2022; and 
WT/TPR/OV/W/16/Add.1/Corr.1, 28  July 2022. WT/TPR/488  
 
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  14. The Report by the Director -General on the 2022 Overview of Developments in the 
International Trading Environment is scheduled t o be discussed by the TPRB on 6  December  2022.  
  WT/TPR/488  
 
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  ANNEX  I 
TRADE POLICY REVIEWS  
WTO Members reviewed, 1989 -2022 
Europe/Middle East  Asia/Pacific  Africa  America  
Albania (2)  Australia (8)  Angolac (2) Antigua and Barbudaa (3) 
Armenia (2)  Bangladeshc (5) Benina,c (4) Argentina (5) 
Bahrain, Kingdom ofa (4) Brunei  Darussalam (3) Botswanaa (4) Barbados (4)  
European  Unionb (14) Cambodiac (2) Burkina Fasoa,c (4) Belize (3)  
Georgia (3)  China (8)  Burundia,c (3) Bolivia, Plurinational  
State of (4)  
Iceland (5)  Fiji (3) Cabo Verde (1)  Brazil (8)  
Israel (5)  Hong Kong, China (8)  Cameroona (4) Canada (11)  
Jordan (2)  India (7)  Central African Republica,c (2) Chile (5)  
Kuwait, State of (1)  Indonesia (7)  Chada,c (2) Colombia (5)  
Liechtensteina (6) Japan (14)  Congo, Democratic Republic 
of thec (2)  Costa Rica (5)  
Moldova, Republic of (2)  Korea, Republic of (8)  Congo, Republic ofa (2) Dominicaa (3) 
Montenegro (1)  Kyrgyz  Republic (3)  Côte d'Ivoirea (3) Dominican  Republic (4)  
North Macedonia (2)  Lao People's Democratic 
Republicc (1) Djiboutia,c (3) Ecuador (3)  
Norway (7)  Macao, China (5)  Egypt (4)  El Salvador (4)  
Omana (3) Malaysia (7)  Eswatinia (4) Grenadaa (3) 
Qatara (3) Maldives (3)  Gabona (3) Guatemala (3)  
Russian  Federation (2) Mongolia (3)  The Gambiac (3) Guyana (4)  
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of (3) Myanmarc (2) Ghana (5) Haitic (2) 
Switzerlanda (8) Nepalc (2) Guinea, Republic ofa,c (4) Honduras (3)  
Türkiye (6)  New Zealand (6)  Guinea -Bissaua,c (2) Jamaica (4)  
Ukraine (1) Pakistan (5)  Kenyaa (5) Mexico (7)  
United Arab Emirates (4)  Papua New Guinea (3)  Lesothoa,c (4) Nicaragua (4)  
 Philippines (5)  Madagascarc (3) Panama (3)  
 Samoa (1)  Malawic (3) Paraguay (4)  
 Singapore (8)  Malia,c (4) Peru (5)  
 Solomon Islandsc (3) Mauritaniaa,c (3) 
St. Kitts and Nevisa (3) 
 Sri Lanka (4) Mauritiusa (5) St. Luciaa (3) 
 Chinese  Taipei (4)  Morocco (5)  St. Vincent and the 
Grenadinesa (3) 
 Tajikistan (1)  Mozambiquec (3) Suriname (3)  
 Thailand (8)  Namibiaa (4)
 Trinidad and Tobago (4)  
 Tonga (2)  Nigera,c (3) United  States (15)  
 Vanuatu (1)  Nigeria (5)  Uruguay (5)  
 Viet Nam (2)  Rwandaa,c (3) Venezuela, Bolivarian  
Republic of (2)  
  Senegala,c (4)  
  Seychelles (1)   
  Sierra  Leonec (2)   
  South  Africaa (5)  
  Tanzaniaa,c (4)  
  Togoa,c (4)  
  Tunisia (3)   
  Ugandaa,c (5)  
  Zambiac (4)  
  Zimbabwe (3)   
    
50 Membersd (105 reviews)  33 Members (152  reviews)  43 Members (146 reviews)  33 Members (147 reviews)  
a Joint meeting and/or report , but counted as individual Member  review for statistical purposes.  
b The United Kingdom was included in the European  Union's last review, thus the number of Members 
counts as 29 (28 EU member States and 1 for the European Union as a Member itself).  
 Some current EU member States were reviewed separately before joining the European  Union : 
Austria  (1), Bulgaria  (1), Croatia  (1), Cyprus  (1), Czech  Republic  (2), Finland  (1), Hungary  (2), 
Poland  (2), Romania  (3), Slovak  Republic  (2), Slovenia  (1), and Sweden  (2). 
c Least developed country (LDC) Member.  
d The United  Kingdom was i ncluded in the European  Union's last review (in 2020), and thus the number 
of Members reviewed for the European  Union totals 29 (28 EU member States and 1 for the 
European  Union as a Member itself).  
Note:  Figures in parentheses indicate the total number of  reviews that will have been conducted by the end 
of 202 2.  WT/TPR/488  
 
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  ANNEX  II 
Trade policy reviews conducted in 202 2 
Member  Meeting date  Review cycle (years)  
Georgia  12 and 14  January  7 
Panama  24 and 26  January  7 
Guyana  2 and 4  March  7 
United Arab Emirates  22 and 24  March  5 
Pakistan  30 March and 1  April 7 
Switzerland and Liechtensteina 18 and 20  May 5 
New Zealanda 1 and 3  June 7 
Ghana  21 and 23 June 7 
Moldova, Republic of  20 and 22  July 7 
Mexicoa 5 and 7  October  5 
Djiboutib  12 and 14  October  7 
Barbados  25 and 27  October  7 
Brazil  23 and 25 November  5 
Seychelles  5 and 7  December  7 
United  States   14 and 16  December  3 
a Alternative timeline.  
b LDC Member.  
  WT/TPR/488  
 
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  ANNEX  III 
Programme of reviews for 202 3 
Member  Meeting dates (scheduled)  Review cycle 
(years)  
Dominican Republica 24 and 26 January  7 
Malaysiaa 8 and 10  February  5 
Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, 
Saint Kitts and Nevis, S aint Lucia, and 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (OECS) 22 and 24  February  7 
Japana 1 and 3  March  3 
Türkiye  8 and 10  March  7 
El Salvadora 18 and 20  April 7 
Liberiab 24 and 26  May 7 
European  Uniona 5 and 7 June  3 
Cameroon, Central African Republicb, Chadb, 
Congo , and Gabon (CEMAC)  27 and 29  June 7 
Honduras  12 and 14  July 7 
Fiji 19 and 21  July 7 
Jordan  27 and 29  September  7 
Botswana, Eswatini, Lesothob, Namibia, and 
South  Africa (SACU)  25 and 27  October  7 
Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu  (Chinese  Taipei)a 7 and 9  November  5 
Albania  22 and 24 November  7 
Hong Kong, Chinaa 6 and 8 December  5 
Chilea 12 and 14  December  7 
 
a Alternative timeline.  
b LDC Member.  
Note:  CEMAC = Central African Economic and Monetary Community.  
 OECS = Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.  
 SACU = Southern African Customs Union.  WT/TPR/488  
 
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  ANNEX IV  
Members to be reviewed in 202 4 
(Due date in parentheses)  
Member  
Afghanistana (2023)  
Angolaa (2022)  
Belize (2024)  
Benina (UEMOA)  (2024)  
Bolivia, Plurinational State of (2024)  
Brunei  Darussalam  (2022)  
Burkina Fasoa (UEMOA) (2024)  
Cabo Verde (2022)  
Cambodiaa (2024)  
Canada (2024)  
China (2024)  
Congo, Democratic Republic ofa (2023)  
Côte d'Ivoire (UEMOA) (2024)  
Cuba (200 1) 
Guatemala  (2023)  
Guinea -Bissaua (UEMOA) (2024)  
Haitia (2022)  
Iceland (2024)  
Jamaica (2024)  
Kazakhstan (2022)  
Kuwait, State of (201 8) 
Madagascara (2022)  
Malawia (2023)  
Malia (UEMOA) (2024)  
Maldives  (2023)  
Morocco  (2023)  
Mozambiquea (2024)  
Nigera (UEMOA) (2024)  
Nigeria (2024)  
Paraguay (2024)  
Senegala (UEMOA) (2024)  
Sierra Leone (2024)  
Solomon Islandsa (2023)  
Sri Lanka  (2023)  
Togoa (UEMOA) (2024)  
Tunisia  (2023)  
Ukraine  (2023)  WT/TPR/488  
 
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  Member  
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of (200 8) 
Yemena (2021)  
Zambiaa (2023)  
a LDC Member.  
Note:  UEMOA  = West African Economic and Monetary Union.  
 
 
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