WT/TPR/ 496 
3 May 2023  
(23-2955) Page: 1/2 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY  
LIBERIA  
Arrangements for Review Meeting  
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 24 and 26 May 2023 to conduct the  first review of the 
trade policies and practices of Liberia  (WTO/AIR/ TPR/144). 
2. This commu nication 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/Rev. 4). 
1  QUESTIONS IN WRITIN G IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING AND MAIN POINTS  
3. Members wishing to submit written questions to the Member under review should do so normally 
at least two weeks before the review meeting to allow replies to be prepared in time for the  
first session of the meeting. For the forthcoming review, such questions should therefore be with 
the Trade  Policies Review Division of the Secretariat ( tprd@wto.org ) by 5.30 p.m., 
Wednes day, 10 May 2023, at the latest.  Advance written questions should reach the Secretariat 
no later than the day before the start of the meeting, by 5.30 p.m. at the latest to allow time for 
the Secretariat to p rocess them. Questions sent on the day of the meeting will be processed after 
the end of the first session of the meeting.  Delegations are informed that Liberia  has opted for the 
traditional way of handling questions and answers.  
4. In line with the rules of procedure of the TPRB (WT/TPR/6/Rev.4, paragraph 17), Members are 
reminded that they should group their written questions into the following three  categories so as to 
facilitate responses: those related to the Secretariat report (with a reference to relevant paragraph 
numbers); those concerning the Government report (with a reference to relevant paragraph 
numbers); and other questions.  
5. The Secretariat shall identify the main points contained in the questions submitted at least 
two weeks before a review meeting , post them on the Members' website one week before the 
meeting , and distribute a revised list of main points during the first ses sion of a review when 
questions received after the two-week deadline give rise to si gnificantly new issues. The main points 
may be found on the Members' website under "Forthcoming Meetings:  Documents for Meetings".  
2  ANSWERS IN WRITING BY THE MEMBER UNDER RE VIEW  
6. Answers by the Member under review sho uld be distributed in writing; advance questions 
submitted by the two-week deadline before the start of the TPRB review should be answered in 
writing by the Member under revi ew by the start of the meeting.  Questions posed subsequently 
should be answered, to the extent possible, before the start of the second session of the meeting. 
Questions left unanswered at the end of the second session should be answered in writing no later 
than one month after the meet ing with some latitude in the Chair's discretion for Members reviewing 
a very large number of questions . WT/TPR/ 496 
 
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 7. In the course of the discussions at the review meeting, the Member under review may indicate 
that it intends to provide supplementary information, in w riting, on specific points raised. Upon 
receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all Members.  
3  DISCUSSANT  
8. In consultation with the Member under review, the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body 
may choose a dis cussant who, in her personal capacity, will introduc e the discussions in the Body. 
H.E. Ms. Xolelwa  Mlumbi -Peter, (South  Africa ), will act as discussant  for the review of  Liberia . 
4  STRUCTURE OF THE MEETING  
9. 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 multila teral 
trading syst em; and 
d. general comments by way of assessment and evaluation.  
10. Meetings take place in two sessions. The first session is devoted to the opening statements by 
the Member under review and the discussant, and remarks and questions from the fl oor. 
The discussion in the second session, when the Member under review will reply to questions, is  based 
on main themes identified after the opening meeting by the Chairperson, the discussant and the 
Secretariat in consultation with the Member.  
11. As indicated in the rules of procedure for TPRB meetings (WT/TPR/6/Rev.4, paragraph 21), 
the speakers ' list will follow the order in which questions are rec eived by the Secretariat and in the 
event of more than one batch, the final batch will determine the or der of speakers.  Delegations not 
submitting written questions will continue to speak second, in the order in which their flags are 
raised.  On the day before each review meeting, the Secretariat will post on the 
WTO Members'  website a provisional list of sp eakers for the first session of that meeting, for 
Members' advance information . 
5  DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS  
12. Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents:  
WT/TPR/G/ 441  Report by Liberia  
 
WT/TPR/S/ 441  Liberia : Report by the Secretariat  
13. The press embargo for the review of  Liberia  will end at 2.00 p.m. Geneva time on  24 May 2023. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETING  
14. The record of the meeting will be circulated as a draft to Members for comments on their own 
statements and placed on the WTO website.  
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