WT/TPR/3 90 
1 February 201 7 
(17-0630) Page: 1/2 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
  TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON  
OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY  
JAPAN 
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 sc heduled for 8 and 10 March 2017  to conduct the thirteenth  review of 
the trade policies and practices of Japan  (WTO/AIR/ TPR/46). 
2.  This communication sets out arrangements  concerning the review meeting . In this connection, 
attention is also drawn to the proce dures for the conduct of reviews contained in the rules of 
procedure of the Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev.3).  
3.  Members' attention is drawn to Japan 's use of the " alternative" time -frame for 
submission of written questions and responses (see below) . 
1  QUESTIONS IN WRITING IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING AND MAIN POINTS  
4.  Members wishing to submit written questions to the Member under review should do 
so at least four weeks before the review meeting to allow replies to be submitted 
one week prio r to the first s ession 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., Wednesday, 8 February 2017 , at the latest.  
5.  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 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.  
6.  The Secretariat shall identify the main points contained in the questions su bmitted at least 
four 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 session of a review when 
questions received after the four-week deadline give rise to si gnificantly new issues . The main 
points may be found on the Members' Websi te under "Forthcoming Meetings : Documents 
for Meetings".  
2  ANSWERS IN WRITING BY THE MEMBER UNDER REVIEW  
7.  Answers by the Member under review sho uld be distributed in writing ; advance questions 
submitted by the four -week deadline before the start of the TPRB review should be 
answered in writing by the Member under review one week prior to  the start of the 
meeting  (1 March 2017 ). Written answers will be made available on the Memb ers' 
Website  four working days prior to the meeting  (2 March 2017 ). Questions posed 
subsequently should be answered, to the extent possible, before the start of the second session of WT/TPR/390  
- 2 - 
  the meeting . Questions left unanswered at the end of the second session s hould 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.  
8.  In the course of the discussions at the review meeting, the Member under review may indicate 
that it intends to provide supplementary information, in writi ng, on specific points raised . Upon 
receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all Members.  
3  DISCUSSANT  
9.  In consultation with the Member under revie w, the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review 
Body may choose a discussant who, in her/his personal capacity, will introduc e the discussions in 
the Body . H.E. Mr. Julian BRAITHWAITE  (United Kingdom ) will act as discussant  for the review 
of Japan . 
4  STRUCTURE  OF THE MEETING  
10.  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 Memb er's trade policies and practices on the functioning of the multilateral 
trading system;  and 
d. general comments by way of assessment and evaluation.  
11.  Meetin gs take place in two sessions . The first session is devoted to the opening statements by 
the Member und er review and the discussant, and remark s 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 discuss ant and the 
Secretariat in consultation with the Member.  
12.  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 n ot submitting written questions will continue to speak second, with precedence given 
to Ambassadors present and asking for the floor . 
5  DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS  
13.  Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following  
documents:  
WT/TPR/G/ 351  Report by Japan  
WT/TPR/S/ 351  Japan : Report by the Secretariat  
14.  The press embargo for the review of Japan  will end at 2.00 p.m. Geneva time on 
8 March  2017. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETING  
15.  The record of the meeting will be circulated as a dr aft to Members for comments on their own 
statements and placed on the WTO website.  
 
__________