WT/TPR/392  
1 March  2017 
(17-1218) Page: 1/2 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
  TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM T HE CHAIRPERSON  
OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY  
MEXICO 
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 s cheduled for 5 and 7 April 2017 to conduct the sixth review of the 
trade policies and practices of Mexico (WTO/AIR/TPR/48).  
2. This communication sets out arrangements concerning the review meeting . In this 
connection, attention is also drawn to the procedure s for the conduct of reviews contained in the 
revised rules of procedure of the Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev.3).  
3. Members' attention is drawn to Mexico's use of the "alternative" time -frame for 
submission of written questions and responses (see be low). 
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 al low replies to be submitted 
one week prior to the fi rst session of the meeting . For the forthcoming review, such 
questions should therefore be with the Trade Policies Review Division of th e Secretariat 
(tprd@wto.org ) by 5.30 p.m., Wednesday, 8 March  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 concern ing 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  submitted 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 gi ve 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  
7. Answers by the Member under review should be distributed in writin g; 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 (2 9 March  2017) . Written answers will be made available on the Members' 
Website four working days prior to the meeting (30 March  2017). 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 sess ion should be answered in WT/TPR/392  
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  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 writing, 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 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.  Mr Gustavo Vanerio Balbela  (Uruguay ) will act as discussant for the  review 
of Mexico . 
4  STRUCT URE 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 M ember's trade policies and practices on the functioning of the multilateral 
trading system ; and 
d. general comments by way of assessment and evaluation.  
11. 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 disc ussant 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 . 
Delegation s 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  
13. Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the follow ing 
documents:  
WT/TPR/G/ 352 Report by Mexico  
WT/TPR/S/ 352 Mexico: Report by the Secretariat  
14. The press embargo for the review of Mexico will end at 2 p.m. Geneva time on 5 April 2017. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETING  
15. The record of the meeting will be circulated as a d raft to Members for comments on their 
own statements and placed on the WTO website.  
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