WT/TPR/388  
 
 24 January 2017  
(17-0438) Page: 1/2 
Trade Policy Review Body    
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE  
TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY  
SIERRA LEONE 
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 Bo dy is scheduled for 1 4 and 16 February 2017 t o conduct the 2nd review of 
the trade policies and practices of Sierra Leone  (WTO/AIR/TPR/ 45). 
2.  This communication 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.3).   
1  QUESTIONS IN WRITING IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING AND MAIN POINTS  
3.  Members wishing to submit written questions to the Member und er review should do so 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., Tuesday 31 January 
2017, at the latest.  
4.  In line with the results of the 4th Appraisal of the TPRM (WT/MIN(11)/6, paragraph 27.2.b and 
Annex 2), Members are reminded that they shou ld 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 releva nt 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 revi sed list of main points during the first session of a review when questions 
received after the two -week deadline give rise to significantly 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 REVIEW  
6.  Answers by the Member under review should 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  review 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 meeting with some latitude in the Chair's discretion for Members 
reviewing a very large number of questions . WT/TPR/388  
 
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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 pro vide supplementary information, in writing, 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 discussant who, in her/his personal capacity, will introduce the discussions in 
the Body. H.E. Mrs. Sabine Böhlke Möller (Namibia ) will act as discussant for the review of Sierra 
Leone.  
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 prac tices on the functioning of the multilateral 
trading system; 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 floor. 
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 c onsultation with the Member.  
11.  The speakers list will follow the order in which questions are received by the Secretariat and 
in the event of more than one batch, the final batch will determine the order of speakers. 
Delegations not submitting written questi ons will continue to speak second, with precedence given 
to Ambassadors present and asking for the floor.  
5  DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS  
12.  Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents:  
WT/TPR/G/ 303/Rev .1 Report by Sierra Leone  
WT/TPR/S/ 303/Rev.1  Sierra Leone: Report by the Secretariat  
13.  The press embargo for this review will end at 2.00 p.m.  Geneva time on 14 February 2017. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETING  
14.  The record of the meeting will be circulated as a draft to M embers for comments on their own 
statements and placed on the WTO website.  
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