WT/TPR/361  
 
23 October 2015  
(15-5596)  Page: 1/6  
  
 
 TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM 
REPORT OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY FOR 2015 
Chairperson: H.E. Ambassador Atanas Atanassov PAPARIZOV (Bulgaria) 
1. This Report by the Trade Policy Review Body  (TPRB) provides a brief assessment of its 
activities in 2015. The annexed tables provide information on Members that are to be reviewed up to the end of 2015, the geographical coverage of the reviews conducted to date, the proposed 
programme of reviews for 2016, and candidates for review in 2017. 
Activities of the TPRB 2. According to Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement, the trade policies and practices of all 
WTO Members are periodically reviewed by the TP RB. By the end of 2015, the TPRB will have 
conducted 429 reviews since its inception in 1989 (up from 405 in 2014), at 322 review meetings 
(Annex I). The reviews have covered 151 out of 161 Members.
1 The trade policies and practices of 
two Members were reviewed for the first time in 2015.2 The TPRB will have conducted reviews of 
24 Members (counting the EU as one) in 2015 (Annex II). The Secretariat continues to group the 
reviews of several Members into one TPRB meeting where Members agree to be grouped and such a grouping is justified. Thus, in 2015, a joint review of SACU Members (Botswana, Lesotho, 
Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland) took place.   
3. The review process, from the preparatory stage to the meeting, has run relatively smoothly 
in 2015. The Secretariat's reports continue to be prepared in close consultation with the authorities of the Member under review. Responses to reques ts for data, documentation and information have 
generally been provided within the suggested dead lines. In preparing its reports, the Secretariat 
has continued its efforts to reduce the burden on the Members under review by using, to the extent possible, other sources of documentation, including Members' official web-sites or other 
authentic web-sites. This has not been possible for all Members under review, and requests for 
documentation continue to be followed up with a questionnaire when sufficient information is not available from alternative sources. The comments by  the authorities on the draft reports and visits 
to capitals by teams from the Secretariat remain essential to the TPR process.  
4. Efforts continue to be made to space meetings of the TPRB as evenly as possible throughout 
the year and to avoid clashes with other meetings at the WTO so as to reduce pressure on Members. However, while a success for the multilat eral trading system, the increasing number of 
WTO Members is also adding to the burden on chairpersons, delegations and the Secretariat 
through the increasing number of reviews necessary to comply with paragraph C (ii) of Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement. 
5. Changes introduced following the Fourth Appraisal of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism 
(TPRM) continue to work satisfactorily.
3 In 2015, nine Members volunteered to use the alternative 
                                               
1 Members not yet reviewed by end-2015 are: Cuba; Lao People's Dem. Rep.; Montenegro; 
Russian Federation; Samoa; Seychelles; Tajikistan; Ukraine; Vanuatu; and Yemen. 
2 Cabo Verde and Republic of Moldova.  
3 These included: the introduction on a voluntary basi s of an alternative timeline for the submission of 
questions and responses; a seven-minute  rule for statements during the fi rst day of a TPRB meeting; and the 
podcasting of TPRB meetings  on a pilot-basis. With regards to the seven-minute rule fo r statements, while 
deviations have been rare, some Members noted during th e Fifth Appraisal that flexibility may be required in WT/TPR/361 
 
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  timelines (compared to four Members in 2014). The seven-minute rule for the interventions 
continued to be applied with very rare exceptions, contributing to making the meetings more efficient and focused. So far in 2015, digital audio files (podcasting) have been used at all TPR meetings. 
6. The TPR programme for 2016 comprises 24 review meetings covering 24 Members 
(Annex III). It includes the postponed review of Sierra Leone. Annex IV provides the list of 
Members that can be considered as candidates for review in 2017. 
Coverage of LDCs and follow-up to TPRB meetings 
7. Trade policy reviews of LDCs have helped them enhance their understanding of the WTO 
Agreements, and enabling better compliance with and integration into the multilateral trading system. Of the 34 least-developed Members of the WT O, 31 will have been reviewed by the end of 
2015.
4 
8. When requested by the Member concerned, th e Secretariat organizes follow-up workshops 
to discuss the outcome of its Trade Policy Review with domestic stakeholders. So far in 2015, one 
follow-up workshop has been conducted for Myanma r. Other follow-up workshops are expected in 
2015 for: the Dominican Republic; Madagascar; Pakistan; and jointly for six WTO Members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and 
Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines ). In the case of Myanmar, the workshop has, 
inter alia , provided the opportunity to identify priority areas for reforms requiring technical 
cooperation and capacity-building assistance, and to synchronize these priorities with the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) work and donor programming. Several donors made 
pledges during the workshop to provide specific assistance in some of these identified areas. 
Myanmar's experience with the follow-up workshop ha s clearly illustrated the additional benefits of 
the TPR process for LDCs. 
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 WTO Secretariat uses this and other information to prepare, on a regular 
basis, reports on the trade and trade-rela ted developments of Members and Observer 
Governments. The information is consolidated and presented in the Director-General's Annual Report on Developments in the International Trading Environment, as called for by paragraph G of Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement. The WTO Secretariat continues to receive good cooperation 
from Members in collecting this information.  
10. The latest trade monitoring report covered measures taken over the period from 
mid-October 2014 to mid-May 2015.
5 The report provided information on the trends in the number 
of trade -restrictive measures as well as those facilitating trade. The report noted that Members 
overall continue to refrain from introducing new trade-restrictive measures. The total stock of 
measures nevertheless continues to rise due to the slow pace of removal of previous restrictions. 
The report underscored the need for continued vigilance from WTO Members in monitoring the 
evolution of trade restrictions. On an encouraging note, the report noted that Members continued to adopt trade-liberalizing measures at a faster pace than trade-restrictive measures. 
11. The Director-General's 2015 Annual Report on Developments in the International Trading 
Environment will be discussed by the TPRB in December 2015. 
                                                                                                                                               
the application of the seven-minute time limit in the case  of group reviews so as to allow deeper consideration 
of each member of the group. 
4 First reviews are due for Vanuatu in 2018, for Lao People's Democratic Republic in 2019, and for 
Yemen in 2020. 
5 An informal meeting of the TPRB was held on 23 July 2015 to discuss the trade monitoring report 
contained in document WT/TPR/OV/W/9. WT/TPR/361 
 
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  ANNEX I  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEWS  
WTO Members reviewed, 1989-2015 
Europe/Middle East Asia/Pacific Africa America 
Albania Australia (7) Angolab (2) Argentina (4) 
Armenia Bangladeshb (4) Beninb, 2 (3) Antigua and Barbuda2 (3) 
Austria1 Brunei Darussalam (3) Botswana2 (4) Barbados (3) 
Bahrain, Kingdom of2 (3) Cambodiab Burkina Fasob, 2 (3) Belize (2) 
Bulgaria1 China (5) Burundib, 2 (2) Bolivia, Plurinational State of (3) 
Croatia1 Fiji (2) Cabo Verdea Brazil (6) 
Cyprus1 Georgia Cameroon2 (4) Canada (10) 
Czech Republic1 (2) Hong Kong, China (7) Central African Republicb, 2(2) Chile (5) 
European Union (12) India (6) Chadb, 2 (2) Colombia (4) 
Finland1 Indonesia (6) Congo, Dem. Rep. of theb  Costa Rica (4) 
Hungary1 (2) Japan (12) Congo, Rep. of 2 (2) Dominica2 (3) 
Iceland (4) Korea, Rep. of (6) Côte d'Ivoire (2) Dominican Republic (4) 
Israel (4) Kyrgyz Republic (2) Djiboutib, 2 (2) Ecuador (2) 
Jordan (2) Macao, China (4)  Egypt (3) El Salvador (3) 
Kuwait, the State of Malaysia (6) Gabon2 (3) Guatemala (2) 
Liechtenstein2 (4) Maldives (2) The Gambiab (2) Grenada2 (3) 
Moldova, Rep. ofa Mongolia (2) Ghana (4) Guyana (3) 
Norway (6) Myanmarb Guinea, Republic ofb (3) Haitib (2) 
Oman2 (2) Nepalb Guinea-Bissaub Honduras (2) 
Poland1 (2) New Zealand (5) Kenya2 (4) Jamaica (3)  
Qatar2 (2) Pakistan (4) Lesothob, 2 (4) Mexico (5) 
Romania1 (3) Papua New Guinea (2) Madagascarb (3) Nicaragua (3) 
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Philippines (4) Malawib (2) Panama (2) 
Slovak Republic1 (2) Singapore (6) Malib, 2 (3) Paraguay (3) 
Slovenia1 Solomon Islandsb (2) Mauritaniab (2) Peru (4) 
Sweden1 (2) Sri Lanka (3) Mauritius2 (4) St. Kitts and Nevis2 (3) 
Switzerland2 (6) Chinese Taipei (3) Morocco (4) St. Lucia2 (3) 
The FYR of Macedonia Thailand (7) Mozambiqueb (2) St. Vincent & Grenadines2 (3) 
Turkey (5) Tonga Namibia2 (4) Suriname (2) 
United Arab Emirates (2) Viet Nam Nigerb, 2 (2) Trinidad and Tobago (3) 
  Nigeria (4) United States of America (12) 
  Rwandab (2) Uruguay (4) 
  Senegalb, 2 (3) Venezuela, Bolivarian Rep. of (2) 
  Sierra Leoneb  
  South Africa2 (5)  
  Swaziland2 (4)  
  Tanzaniab, 2 (3)  
  Togob (3)  
  Tunisia (2)  
  Ugandab, 2 (4)  
  Zambiab (3)  
  Zimbabwe (2)  
46 Members (77 reviews)  30 Members (116 reviews) 42 Members (116 reviews)  33 Members (120 reviews)  
The parentheses indicate the number of reviews completed (where this is greater than one). 
a First review in 2015. 
b Least-developed Member. 1 Now included in European Union (EU-28). 2 Joint review but counted as individual Members for statistical purposes from 2009. 
Reviews conducted at end-2015  = 429 reviews at 322 TPRB meetings 
WTO Members reviewed  = 151 out of 161 Members Least-developed WTO Members reviewed  = 31 out of 34
  WT/TPR/361 
 
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  ANNEX II 
Trade policy reviews conducted in 2015 
Member Meeting date Review cycle (years) 
Barbados (3) 27 and 29 January 6 
Brunei Darussalama (3) 10 and 12 February 6 
Japana (12) 9 and 11 March 2 
Pakistan (4) 24 and 26 March 6 
Australiaa (7) 21 and 23 April 4 
India (6) 2 and 4 June 4 
Canadaa (10) 15 and 17 June 4 
Chilea (5) 23 and 25 June 6 
New Zealanda (5) 29 June and 1 July 6 
European Uniona (12) 6 and 8 July 2 
Madagascarb (3) 14 and 16 July 6 
Dominican Republica (4) 28 and 30 July 6 
Guyanaa (3) 15 and 17 September 6 
Angolab (2) 22 and 24 September 6 
Cabo Verde (1) 6 and 8 October 6 
Moldova, Rep. of (1) 19 and 21 October 6 
SACU:  Botswana (4), Lesothob (4), 
Namibia (4), South Africa (5), and Swaziland (4) 4 and 6 November 6 
Jordan (2) 17 and 19 November 6 
Thailand (7) 24 and 26 November 4 
Haitib (2) 2 and 4 December 6 
Note: Figures in brackets indicate the total number of reviews that will have been conducted by the end of 
2015. 
a Alternative timeline. 
b Least-develo ped country. WT/TPR/361 
 
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  ANNEX III 
Proposed programme of reviews for 2016 
Member Meeting dates (scheduled) 
Georgia 19 and 21 January 
Morocco 2 and 4 February 
Fiji 23 and 25 February  
Turkey 15 and 17 March 
Maldives 21 and 23 March 
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of 4 and 6 April 
Ukraine 19 and 21 April  
Malawia 27 and 29 April 
Honduras 2 and 4 May 
Albania 11 and 13 May 
United Arab Emirates 1 and 3 June  
Democratic Rep. of the Congoa 15 and 17 June 
Zambiaa 21 and 23 June  
China 5 and 7 July  
Tunisia 13 and 15 July 
Singaporeb 26 and 28 July  
El Salvador 14 and 16 September 
Russian Federation 28 and 30 September 
Rep. of Korea 11 and 13 October 
Sierra Leonea 19 and 21 October 
Sri Lanka 1 and 3 November 
Guatemalab 16 and 18 November 
Solomon Islandsa 13 and 15 December  
United States of America 19 and 21 December  
a Least-develo ped country. 
b Alternative timeline. 
 WT/TPR/361 
 
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  ANNEX IV 
Candidates for TPRB Reviews in 2017 
(Due date in parentheses) 
 
 
Member  
Armenia (2016) Jamaica (2017) 
Belize (2016) Japan (2017) 
Benina (UEMOA) (2016) Malia (UEMOA) (2016) 
Bolivia, Plurinational State of (2011) Mauritaniaa (2016) 
Brazil (2017) Mexico (2017) 
Burkina Fasoa (UEMOA) (2016) Mozambiquea (2015) 
Cambodiaa (2017) Nigera (UEMOA) (2015) 
Cote d'Ivoire (UEMOA) (2018) Nigeria (2017) 
Cuba (2001) Papua New Guinea (2016) 
Ecuador (2017) Paraguay (2017) 
Egypt (2011) Senegala (UEMOA) (2015) 
EU (2017) Switzerland and Liechtenstein (2017) 
The Gambiaa (2016) Togoa (UEMOA) (2018) 
Guinea-Bissaua (UEMOA) (2018) Venezuela, Bolivarian Rep. of (2008) 
Guinea, Rep. ofa (2016) Zimbabwe (2016) 
a Least-develo ped country. 
 
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