WT/TPR/321  
 
8 October 2013  
(13-5447)  Page: 1/6  
 Trade Policy Review Body   
 
   
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM 
REPORT OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY FOR 2013 
Chairperson:  H.E. Mr Joakim Reiter (Sweden) 
1. This Report by the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) provides a brief assessment of the 
activities of the TPRB over the past 12 months  and reports on the reviews of Members conducted 
in 2013. Tables are annexed showing the Members th at will have been reviewed up to the end of 
2013, the geographical coverage of the reviews conducted to date, as well as the proposed programme of reviews for 2014 and candidates for review in 2015. 
Follow-up to the Fourth Appraisal of the TPRM 
2. The Fourth Appraisal of the TPRM was conducted by the TPRB in 2011 and the results were 
endorsed by Ministers at MC8 (WT/MIN(11)/6). In  addition, the Ministerial Conference took a 
decision to continue and strengthen the trade mo nitoring exercise (WT/L/848).  The TPRB began 
implementing those results on a provisional basis in 2012. Inter alia : during 2012-2013 nine 
Members (Costa Rica; the EU; Kyrgyz Rep.; Ma cao, China; Mexico; Norway; the Philippines; 
Singapore; and Suriname) volunteered to apply the alternative timelines for the Question and 
Answer process, which produced a more timely distribution of written answers ahead of TPRB 
meetings; improvements were made to the organiza tion and structure of TPRB meetings, to make 
them more interactive and the discussion more frui tful; and digital audio files (podcasting) were 
introduced on a pilot basis; during 2012-2013, 11 Members have used this service. Furthermore, 
since the Fourth Appraisal, follow-up workshops have been organized in the Democratic Republic 
of the Congo, Nicaragua, and Zimbabwe, while similar workshops are scheduled in the second half of 2013 for the East African Community, the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, 
and the West African Economic and Monetary Union. The Fifth Appraisal of the TPRM is being 
prepared in 2013 for the Ninth Ministerial Conference.  
Activities of the TPRB 
3. The TPRB is required to periodically review the trade policies and practices of all Members.  By 
the end of 2013, the TPRB will have conducted 384 reviews since its formation, at 289 review meetings (Annex I). The reviews have covered 147 of 159 Members.
1 The trade policies and 
practices of two Members were reviewed for the first time in 2013.2 
4. The Trade Policy Review Body will have conduc ted reviews of  20 Members (counting the EU as 
one) in 2013 (Annex II). The Secretariat's reports continue to be prepared in close consultation with the authorities of the Member under review. 
5. Procedures for the reviews conducted in 2013 have run smoothly. Responses to requests for 
documentation and questionnaires have normally been provided at or close to the requested dates. In line with recent practice, the Secretariat has attempted to reduce the burden on Members under 
review of providing responses by using, to the extent possible, alternative sources of 
                                               
1 Members not yet reviewed at end 2013 are:  Cape Verde, Cuba, Lao People's Dem. Rep., Moldova, 
Montenegro, Myanmar, Russian Federation, Samoa,  Tajikistan, Tonga, Ukraine, and Vanuatu. 
2 The former Yugoslav Republic  of Macedonia and Viet Nam.  WT/TPR/321 
 
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  documentation, including Members' official web-sites. It has not been possible to do this for all 
Members under review, and requests for documentation continue to be followed up with a detailed questionnaire when sufficient information is not available from alternative sources. Secretariat visits to capitals have continued to be productive, and comments provided on Secretariat drafts 
have been pertinent; close contact with the Member under review is necessary to help ensure the 
factual accuracy and clarity of the documentation prepared for the Review.   
6. Efforts continue to be made to space meetings of the TPRB as evenly as possible throughout 
the year and to avoid clashes with other meetings at the WTO so as to reduce pressure on 
Members. 
7. The Trade Policy Review programme for 2014 comprises 15 review meetings covering 24 
Members (Annex III). 
Coverage of least developed countries (LDCs) 
8. Of the 34 least developed Members of the WTO, 30 will have been reviewed by the end of 
2013.
3 
9. Trade Policy Reviews of LDCs have helped to enhance understanding in these countries of the 
WTO Agreements, enabling better compliance and integration into the multilateral trading system.  In some cases, better interaction between gove rnment agencies has been facilitated by the 
reviews.  The reports' wide coverage of Members' policies also enables Members to identify any 
shortcomings in policy and specific areas where further technical assistance may be required. When requested by the Member concerned, the Secretariat organizes follow-up seminars to 
discuss the outcome of the trade policy review process with domestic stakeholders. 
Monitoring of trade and trade-related measures 
10. The TPRM requires Members, in between their re views, to provide information on significant 
trade policy changes. The WTO Secretariat uses this and other information to prepare reports by 
the Director-General on a regular basis on the trade and trade-related developments of Members 
and Observer Governments. The reports are discussed at meetings of the TPRB.
4 The WTO 
Secretariat consults closely with delegations to gather complete, up-to-date and accurate 
information on their trade and trade-related measures, and has received good cooperation. The 
information is consolidated and presented in the Director-General's Annual Report on Developments in the International Trading Environment, as called for by paragraph G of Annex 3.  The 2013 Annual Report will be discussed by the TPRB at the beginning of 2014. 
                                               
3 First reviews are due for Samoa an d Vanuatu in 2018, and for Lao People’s Democratic Republic and 
Tajikistan in 2019. 
4 An informal meeting of the TPRB was held on 19 July 2013 to discuss the trade monitoring report 
contained in document WT/TPR/OV/W/7. WT/TPR/321 
 
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  ANNEX I  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEWS  
WTO Members reviewed, 1989-2013 
Europe/Middle East Asia/Pacific Africa America 
Albania Australia (6) Angolab Argentina (4) 
Armenia Bangladeshb (4) Beninb,2 (3) Antigua and Barbuda2 (2) 
Austria1 Brunei Darussalam (2) Botswana2 (3) Barbados (2) 
Bahrain (2) Cambodiab Burkina Fasob,2 (3) Belize (2) 
Bulgaria1 China (4) Burundib, 2 (2) Bolivia (3) 
Croatia1 Fiji (2) Cameroon2 (4) Brazil (6) 
Cyprus1 Georgia Chadb, 2 (2) Canada (9) 
Czech Republic1 (2) Hong Kong, China (6) Central African Republicb, 2 (2) Chile (4) 
European Union (11) India (5) Congo, D.R.b  Colombia (4) 
Finland1 Indonesia (6) Congo, Rep. of 2 (2) Costa Rica (4) 
Hungary1 (2) Japan (11) Côte d'Ivoire (2) Dominica2 (2) 
Iceland (4) Korea, Rep. of (6) Djiboutib Dominican Republic (3) 
Israel (4) Kyrgyz Republic (2) Egypt (3) Ecuador (2) 
Jordan Macao, China (4)  Gabon2 (3) El Salvador (3) 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Malaysia (5) Gambiab (2) Guatemala (2) 
Kuwait Maldivesb (2) Ghana (3) Grenada2 (2) 
Liechtenstein2 (4) Mongolia Guinea, Republic ofb (3) Guyana (2) 
Norway (6) Nepalb Guinea-Bissaub Haitib 
Oman New Zealand (4) Kenya2 (4) Honduras (2) 
Poland1 (2) Pakistan (3) Lesothob,2 (3) Jamaica (3)  
Qatar  Papua New Guinea (2) Madagascarb (2) Mexico (5) 
Romania1 (3) Philippines (4) Malawib (2) Nicaragua (3) 
Slovak Republic1 (2) Singapore (6) Malib,2 (3) Panama 
Slovenia1 Solomon Islandsb (2) Mauritaniab (2) Paraguay (3) 
Sweden1 (2) Sri Lanka (3) Mauritius (3) Peru (4) 
Switzerland2 (6) Chinese Taipei (2) Morocco (4) St.Kitts and Nevis2 (2) 
The FYR of Macedoniaa Thailand (6) Mozambiqueb (2) St.Lucia2 (2) 
Turkey (5) Viet Nama Namibia2 (3) St.Vincent & Grenadines2 (2) 
United Arab Emirates (2)  Nigerb,2 (2) Suriname (2) 
  Nigeria (4) Trinidad and Tobago (3) 
  Rwandab (2) United States (11) 
  Senegalb,2 (3) Uruguay (4) 
  Sierra Leoneb Venezuela (2) 
  South Africa2 (4)  
  Swaziland2 (3)  
  Tanzaniab,2 (3)  
  Togob (3)  
  Tunisia (2)  
  Ugandab,2 (4)  
  Zambiab (3)  
  Zimbabwe (2)  
45 Members (71 reviews)  28 Members (102 reviews) 41 Members (105 reviews)  33 Members (106 reviews)  
( )   Number of reviews completed where this is greater than one. 
a    First review in 2013. b    Least-developed Member. 
1    Now included in European Union (EU28). 
2    Joint review but counted as individual Members for statistical purposes from 2009. 
Reviews conducted at end-2013   = 384 reviews at 289 TPRB meetings 
WTO Members reviewed   = 147 out of 159 Members Least-developed WTO Members reviewed  =     30 out of 34 WT/TPR/321 
 
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  ANNEX II 
 
Trade Policy Reviews conducted in 2013 
Membera Meeting date (scheduled) Review cycle (years) 
Japan (11) 19 and 21 February 2 
Argentina (4) 20 and 22 March 6 
Indonesia (6) 10 and 12 April 6 
Mexico (5) 17 and 19 April 4 
Switzerland (6) and Liechtenstein (4) 23 and 25 April 4 
Macao, China (4) 13 and 15 May 6 
Suriname (2) 10 and 12 June 6 
Brazil (6) 24 and 26 June 4 
European Union (11) 16 and 18 July 2 
CEMAC (Cameroon (4), Central African 
Republic*(2), Chad*(2), Congo, Rep. 
of*(2), and Gabon(3)) 29 and 31 July 6 
Viet Nam (1) 17 and 19 September 6 
Costa Rica (4) 24 and 26 September 6 
Peru (4) 13 and 15 November 6 
Kyrgyz Republic (2) 19 and 21 November 6 
FYR Macedonia (1) 27 and 29 November 6 
* Least-developed country. 
a Figures in brackets indi cate number of reviews. WT/TPR/321 
 
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  ANNEX III 
Proposed programme of reviews for 2014 
Member Meeting date 
Tonga  11 & 13 February 
Malaysia 3 & 5 March 
Myanmar* 11 & 13 March 
Qatar, Bahrain, Oman 22 & 24 April 
Ghana + Sierra Leone* [26 & 28 May] 
Mongolia 3 & 5 June 
OECS (6 Members) 17 & 19 June 
China 1 & 3 July 
Panama 23 & 25 July 
Chinese Taipei 16 & 18 September 
Djibouti* + Mauritius 22 & 24 October 
Hong Kong, China  
19 & 21 November 
 
Tunisia 26 & 28 November 
Ukraine 9 & 11 December 
United States 16 & 18 December 
 
* Least-developed country. 
[ ] Dates to be confirmed. WT/TPR/321 
 
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  ANNEX IV 
Candidates for TPRB Reviews in 2015 
(Due date in parentheses) 
Cuba (2001) Fiji (2015) 
Moldova (2007) Georgia (2015) 
Venezuela, Bolivarian Rep. of (2008) Guatemala (2015) 
Haiti* (2009) India (2015) 
Bolivia, Plurinational State of (2011) Japan (2015) 
Egypt (2011) Lesotho* (SACU) (2015) 
Angola* (2012) Maldives* (2015) 
Barbados (2014) Morocco (2015) 
Cape Verde (2014) Mozambique* (2015) 
Dominican Republic (2014) Namibia (SACU) (2015) 
Jordan (2014) New Zealand (2015) 
Madagascar* (2014) Niger* (2015) 
Pakistan (2014) Senegal* (2015) 
Canada (2015) Solomon Islands* (2015) 
Guyana (2015) South Africa (SACU) (2015) 
Australia (2015) Swaziland (SACU) (2015) 
Botswana (SACU) (2015) Thailand (2015) 
Chile (2015) Zambia* (2015) 
EU28 (2015)  
 
* Least-developed country. 
__________