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WT/TPR/W/234  
 
23 October 2023  
(23-7103)  Page: 1/8 
Trade Policy Review Body  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
DRAFT REPORT OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY FOR 202 3 
Chairperson: H.E. Saqer Abdullah ALMOQBEL (Kingdom  of Saudi  Arabia ) 
1. This Report by the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) provides a brief assessment of its 
activities in 202 3. The annexed tables provide information on Members reviewed up to the end of 
2023, the programme of reviews for 202 4, and candidates for review in 202 5. 
Seventh Appraisal of the T rade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM)  
2. On 26 July 2023, the TPRB formally endorsed the Chair's Report on the Seventh Appraisal1 
and decided unanimously to submit it to MC13 for consideration. Members recognized the TPRM as 
a core function of the WTO, and discussed six main aspects: review cycles , TPR reports , Q&A process , 
meeting structure , follow -up activities , and the Trade Monitoring exercise. Discussions were 
structured around the need to reduce the burden of the TPR exercise on Members and the Secretariat 
while retaining the value of TPRs.  
3. As part of the appraisal package, Members agreed to maintain the c urrent review cycles 
(3, 5, and 7  years) with flexibility and preparatory assistance accorded to least-developed countries 
(LDCs). They made recommendations on strengthening the Secretariat report and reiterated their 
trust in the Secretariat's professional judgment in preparing its report. Members defined a timeline 
for making fully operational an improved IT system to facilitate th e TPR Q&A process and enable its 
uniform use by all Members at the earliest possible date. They  agreed to exercise restraint in posing  
advance written questions to make the Q&A process more manageable, particularly for the largest 
traders. Members encourag ed the Secretariat to continue offering upon request TPR follow -up 
workshops, in particular for LDCs, and report on the outcome of those activities. On Trade 
Monitoring, Members agreed that the TPRB should play a greater role as a forum to share informatio n 
on trade policies and practices, especially in times of global crises.  
4. Members decided to keep the optional nature of the alternative timeline and the current 
timeline  in submitting advance written questions . They also decided to maintain the current mee ting 
structure and to discuss and consider ways to reinvigorate TPR meetings at the next Appraisal.  
5. The next Appraisal of the operation of the TPRM should take place at a time to be decided by 
the TPRB, but not later than 2027, and preferably not in the ye ar of a WTO Ministerial Conference.  
 
1 WTO document  WT/TPR/500 , 26 July 2023. WT/TPR/W/234  
 
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  Activities of the TPRB  
6. By the end of 202 3, the TPRB will have conducted 580 reviews2 since its inception in 1989 
(Annex  I), covering 160 of 164  Members.3 Thirty  Members4 were reviewed in 202 3, including 
four LDCs (Annex  II). Eight Members (counting the European  Union as one) opted for the alternative 
timeline for the Q&A process.  
7. During the year, the review process, from start to finish, ran smoothly. The Secretariat reports 
continue to be prepared in close consul tation with the authorities of the Members under review, and 
are always delivered on time.  Responses to requests for data, documentation , and information have 
generally been provided within the suggested deadlines. In preparing its reports, the Secretariat  
also continued 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 202 3, in-person visits were resumed  after 
the pandemic , and thus the Secretariat teams were able to communicate directly with officials in 
capital . Virtual co mmunication also continued, particularly at the beginning of the TPR process, as 
an alternative means of exchanging information between the Secretariat teams and the authorities.  
8. Efforts continue to be made to schedule TPRB meetings evenly throughout the year and, to 
the extent possible, avoid conflicts with other WTO meetings so as to reduce pressure on Members.  
9. The programme of reviews for 202 4 was issued on 26  June 2023.5 After feedback from the 
relevant delegations , the WTO Secretariat circulated the first revision of the 2024 Programme on 
2 October  2023.6 The programme for 202 4 comprises 1 4 meetings, covering 14 Members 
(Annex  III). Annex  IV provides the list of Members that a re considered as candidates for review 
in 2025. 
Coverage of LDCs and follow -up to TPRB meetings  
10. TPRs of LDCs have been beneficial to them in terms of improving their understanding of, and 
enhancing their compliance with, WTO agreements. This thus helps the m to further integrate into 
the multilateral trading system. Of the current 35  WTO LDC Members, 33 had been reviewed by the 
end of 2023. In 202 3, four LDC Member s, Central  African  Republic, Chad, Lesotho, and Liberia, were  
reviewed.  
11. At the request of the Member concerned, the Secretariat organizes a follow -up workshop to 
discuss the outcomes of the Review  with domestic stakeholders  for LDCs and developing countries . 
The Secretariat works  closely with the Member to plan a workshop that  not only disseminates 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 workshop aim s to achieve 
a better understanding of recent in itiatives taken, or being taken, by the Government, and 
exchanging views on steps the Government may take to address concerns raised by other Members. 
In 202 3, one national follow -up workshop w as conducted , for the Republic  of Moldova . 
Monitoring of trade and trade -related measures  
12. 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 Membe rs and Observer Governments , which are then  
consolidated in the annual Report by the Director -General on the Overview of Developments in the 
International Trading Environment .6 Cooperation and interest from Members remain very positive, 
 
2 To accurately reflect the number of times each Member has been reviewed, reviews are counted 
individually (regardless of joint meeting or joint report).  
3 Members not yet reviewed by end -2023 are Afghanistan (to be reviewed in 202 5); Cuba (to be 
reviewed in 202 5); Kazakhstan ( scheduled for  review in 2024); and Yemen (to be reviewed in 202 5). 
4 Counting the European  Union as one, and members of the Central African Economic and Monetary 
Community  (CEMAC ), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States ( OECS ), and the Southern  African 
Customs  Union ( SACU ) individually.  
5 WTO document WT/TPR/499 , 26 June 2023. 
6 WTO document WT/TPR/499/Rev.1 , 2 October  2023. 
7 According to paragraph G of Annex  3 to the Marrakesh Agreement . WT/TPR/W/234  
 
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  as noted in the re gular meetings of the TPRB on trade monitoring. The Secretariat continues to reach 
out to all Members and Observers with a view to improving their participation.  
13. The latest Report of the TPRB from the Director -General on Trade -Related Developments 
(Trade Monitoring Report ) covered measures taken from mid -October  2022 to mid -May 2023.7 The 
Report showed that WTO Member s introduced more regular8 trade-facilitating (182) than 
trade-restrictive (110) measures on goods during the review period. The number of new export 
restrictions has outpaced that of import restrictions for the third time since the beginning of the 
Trade Monitoring exercise in 2008. Globally, as of mid -May 2023, 63 export restrictions on food, 
feed, and fertilizers were still in place, in ad dition to 21 COVID -19-related export restrictions. In the 
area of services, 74 new measures were introduced by WTO  Member s, mostly facilitating trade. The 
review period saw new support measures by Governments, including various environmental impact 
reducti on programmes. The implementation of new COVID -19 trade -related measures on goods, 
services, intellectual property, and general economic support by WTO  Members declined during the 
review period.  
14. Members discussed the latest  Trade Monitoring Report during a n informal meeting on 
27 July 2023. The Report by the Director -General on the 2023 Overview of Developments in the 
International Trading Environment is scheduled to be discussed by the TPRB on 7  December  2023.  
 
  
 
8 WTO documents WT/TPR/OV/W/17  and WT/TPR/OV/W/17/Add.1 , 14 July 2023; and 
WT/TPR/OV/W/17/Cor r.1, WT/TPR/OV/W/17/Add.1/Corr. 1, WT/TPR/OV/W/17/Corr.2 , 28 July 2023. 
9 Regular measures are those not related to the COVID -19 pandemic.  WT/TPR/W/234  
 
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  ANNEX  I 
TRADE POLICY REVIEWS  
WTO Member s reviewed, 1989 -2023 
Europe/Middle East  Asia/Pacific  Africa  America s 
Albania ( 3) Australia (8)  Angolac (2) Antigua  and Barbudaa (4) 
Armenia (2)  Bangladeshc (5) Benina,c (4) Argentina (5) 
Bahrain, Kingdom ofa (4) Brunei  Darussalam (3) Botswanaa (5) Barbados (4)  
European  Unionb (15) Cambodiac (2) Burkina  Fasoa,c (4) Belize (3)  
Georgia (3)  China (8)  Burundia,c (3) Bolivia, Plurinational  
State of (4)  
Iceland (5)  Fiji (4) Cabo Verde  (1) Brazil (8)  
Israel (5)  Hong Kong,  China  (9) Cameroona (5) Canada (11)  
Jordan ( 3) India (7)  Central  African  Republica,c (3) Chile ( 6) 
Kuwait, State of (1)  Indonesia (7)  Chada,c (3) Colombia (5)  
Liechtensteina (6) Japan (1 5) Congo, Democratic Republic 
of thec (2)  Costa  Rica (5) 
Moldova, Republic of (2)  Korea, Republic of (8)  Congo, Republic ofa (3) Dominicaa (4) 
Montenegro (1)  Kyrgyz  Republic (3)  Côte d'Ivoirea (3) Dominican  Republic ( 5) 
North  Macedonia  (2) Lao People's Democratic 
Republicc (1) Djiboutia,c (3) Ecuador (3)  
Norway (7)  Macao,  China  (5)  Egypt (4)  El Salvador  (5) 
Omana (3) Malaysia ( 8) Eswatinia (5) Grenadaa (4) 
Qatara (3) Maldives (3)  Gabona (4) 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 ( 4) 
Türkiye ( 7) 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 (5) Nicaragua (4)  
 Philippines (5)  Liberiac (1) Panama (3)  
 Samoa (1)  Madagascarc (3) Paraguay (4)  
 Singapore (8)  Malawic (3) Peru (5)  
 Solomon  Islandsc (3) Malia,c (4) St Kitts and Nevisa (4) 
 Sri Lanka  (4) Mauritaniaa,c (3) 
St Luciaa (4) 
 Chinese  Taipei ( 5) Mauritiusa (5) St Vincent and the 
Grenadinesa (4) 
 Tajikistan (1)  Morocco (5)  Suriname (3)  
 Thailand (8)  Mozambiquec (3)
 Trinidad  and Tobago  (4) 
 Tonga (2)  Namibiaa (5) United  States (15)  
 Vanuatu (1)  Nigera,c (3) Uruguay (5)  
 Viet Nam (2)  Nigeria (5)  Venezuela, Bolivarian  
Republic of (2)  
  Rwandaa,c (3)  
  Senegala,c (4)  
  Seychelles (1)   
  Sierra  Leonec (2)   
  South  Africaa (6)  
  Tanzaniaa,c (4)  
  Togoa,c (4)  
  Tunisia (3)   
  Ugandaa,c (5)  
  Zambiac (4)  
  Zimbabwe (3)   
    
50 Members (10 9 reviews)  33 Members (15 7 reviews)  44 Members (1 57 reviews)  33 Members (1 57 reviews)  
a Joint meeting and/or report, but counted as an individual Member 's 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  State s and 1 for the European  Union  as a Member itself).  
 Some current EU  member  State s 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 count ry (LDC) Member.  
Note:  Figures in parentheses indicate the number of reviews that will have been conducted by end -2023.  WT/TPR/W/234  
 
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  ANNEX  II 
Trade policy reviews conducted in 202 3 
Member  Meeting date  Review cycle (years)  
Dominican  Republica 24 and 26  January  7 
Malaysiaa 8 and 10  February  5 
Japana 1 and 3  March  3 
El Salvadora 18 and 20  April  7 
Antigua  and Barbuda , Dominica, Grenada, 
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint  Lucia, and 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (OECS)  3 and 5  May 7 
Liberiab 24 and 26  May 7 
European  Uniona 5 and 7  June 3 
Honduras  12 and 14  July  7 
Fiji 19 and 21  July 7 
Cameroon, Central  African  Republicb, Chadb, 
Congo, and Gabon (CEMAC)  20 and 22  September  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 
Türkiye  13 and 15  November  7 
Albania  22 and 24  November  7 
Hong Kong,  Chinaa 6 and 8  December  5 
Chilea 11 and 13 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/W/234  
 
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  ANNEX  III 
Programme of reviews for 202 4 
Member  Meeting dates (scheduled)  Review cycle 
(years)  
Angolaa 18 and 20  March  7 
Morocco  22 and 24  April 7 
Mozambiquea 15 and 17  May 7 
Icelandb 12 and 14  June 7 
Canadab 19 and 21  June 5 
Jamaica  10 and 12  July 7 
China  17 and 19  July 3 
Kazakhstan  25 and 27  September  7 
Malawia 9 and 11  October  7 
Maldives  23 and 25  October  7 
Nigeria  13 and 15  November  7 
Paraguayb 20 and 22  November  7 
Brunei  Darussalam  27 and 29  November  7 
Solomon  Islandsa,b 11 and 13  December  7 
 
a LDC Member . 
b Alternative timeline . WT/TPR/W/234  
 
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  ANNEX IV  
Candidates for  review in 202 5 
Member  Due date  
Afghanistana  2023 
Armenia  2025 
Australia  2025 
Belize  2024 
Benina (UEMOA)   2024 
Bolivia, Plurinational State of  2024 
Burkina  Fasoa (UEMOA)  2024 
Cabo Verde  2022 
Cambodiaa  2024 
Colombia  2025 
Congo, Democratic Republic ofa  2023 
Côte d'Ivoire (UEMOA)  2024 
Cuba  2001 
Egypt  2025 
The Gambiaa  2025 
Guatemala  2023 
Guineaa  2025 
Guinea‑Bissaua (UEMOA)  2024 
Haitia  2022 
Israel  2025 
Kuwait, State of  2018 
Madagascara  2022 
Malia (UEMOA)  2024 
Mauritaniaa  2025 
Montenegro  2025 
Nepala  2025 
Nigera (UEMOA)  2024 
Norway  2025 
Philippines  2025 
Senegala (UEMOA)  2024 
Sierra  Leonea  2024 
Sri Lanka  2023 
Thailand  2025 
Togoa (UEMOA)  2024 
Tunisia  2023 
Ukraine  2023 
United  Kingdom  2025 
United  States  2025 WT/TPR/W/234  
 
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  Member  Due date  
Uruguay  2025 
Vanuatu  2025 
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of  2008 
Yemena  2021 
Zambiaa  2023 
a LDC Member.  
Note:  UEMOA = West African Economic and Monetary Union.  
 
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