. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/TPR/303 
31 October 2012 
 (12-5910) 
Trade Policy Review Body  
  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM 
 
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY 
 
Arrangements for Review Meeting 
 
Communication from the Chairperson of  the Trade Policy Review Body 
 
 
1. In pursuance of Article IV, paragraph 4 and A nnex 3 of the WTO Agreement, a meeting of 
the Trade Policy Review Body is scheduled for 21 and 23 November 2012 to conduct the second 
review of the trade policies and practices of the East African Community (WTO/AIR/4024). 
2. This communication sets out arrangements c oncerning the review meeting.  In this 
connection, attention is also drawn to the procedur es for the conduct of reviews contained in the rules 
of procedure of the Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev.3). 
I. 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 6 November 2012, at the latest.  All ques tions submitted will be made available to Members 
at the beginning of the meeting. 
4. In line with the results of the 4
th 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 G overnment report (with a reference 
to relevant paragraph numbe rs);  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 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 "For thcoming meetings:  Documents for Meetings". 
II. 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 star t 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 WT/TPR/303 
Page 2  
 
  one month after the meeting with some latitude in  the Chair's discretion for Members reviewing a 
very large number of questions. 
7. In the course of the discussions at the review  meeting, the Member under review may indicate 
that it intends to provide supplementary informa tion, in writing, on specific points raised.  Upon 
receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all Members. 
III. 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 pe rsonal capacity, will introduce the discussions in the 
Body.  H.E. Mr. YI Xiaozhun (China) will act as  discussant for the review of the East African 
Community. 
IV. 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 a nd developmental needs, including the 
external environment; 
(c) impact of the Member's trade policies and practices 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, an d remarks and questions from the floor.  The 
discussion in the second session, when the Member unde r review will reply to questions, is based on 
main themes identified after the opening meeti ng by the Chairperson, the discussant and the 
Secretariat in consultation with the Member. 
11. The speakers list will follow the order in which que stions are received by the Secretariat with 
precedence given to Ambassadors present and asking for the floor. 
V. DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS 
12. Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents: 
WT/TPR/G/271  Reports by the East African Community Members 
WT/TPR/S/271  East African Community:  Report by the Secretariat 
13. The press embargo for the review of the East African Community will end at 2.00 p.m. 
Geneva time on 21 November 2012. 
VI. RECORD OF THE MEETING 
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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