WT/TPR/ 395 
25 April 2017 
(17-2237) Page: 1/2 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM T HE CHAIRPERSON OF TH E TRADE POLICY REVIE W BODY  
SWITZERLAND AND LIECHTENSTEIN  
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 16 and 18 May  2017 to conduct the fifth joint review of 
the trade policies and practices of Switzerland and Liechtenstein  (WTO/AIR/ TPR/51). 
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 under 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  2 May 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 should gro up 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 par agraph 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 li st of main points during the first session 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' Websi te under "Forthcoming Meetings:  Documents for 
Meetings".  
2  ANSWERS IN WRITING BY THE MEMBER UNDER REVIEW  
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 meeting with some latitude in the Chair's discretion for Members 
reviewing a  very large number of questions . WT/TPR/ 395 
 
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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 s upplementary information, in writi ng, 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 Polic y Review 
Body may choose a discussant who, in her/his personal capacity, will introduc e the discussions in 
the Body. H.E. Mr. David Walker  (New Zealand ) will act as discussant  for the review of Switzerland 
and Liechtenstein.  
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 an d practices on the functioning of the multilateral 
trading syst em; and 
d. general comments by way of assessment and evaluation.  
10. Meetin gs take place in two sessions. The first session is devoted to the opening statements by 
the Member under review and the disc ussant, 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 discussant and the 
Secretaria t in consultation 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 questions 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/ 355  Report s by Switzerland and Liechtenstein  
 
WT/TPR/S/ 355  Switzerland and Liechtenstein : Report by the Secretariat  
13. The press embargo for the review of Switzerland and Liechtenstein will end at 2.00 p.m. 
Geneva time on 16 May  2017. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETIN G 
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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