./. 
 WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/TPR/299 
4 September 2012 
 (12-4723) 
Trade Policy Review Body  
  
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM 
 
NORWAY 
 
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 9 and 11 October 2012 to conduct the sixth review of 
the trade policies and practices of Norway (WTO/AIR/3985). 
2. This communication sets out arrangements c oncerning the review meeting.  In this 
connection, attention is also drawn to the pro cedures for the conduct of reviews contained in the 
revised rules of procedure of the Trad e Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev.3). 
3. Members' attention is drawn to Norway's use of the "alternative" timeframe for 
submission of written questions and responses (see below).  
I. 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 prior to 
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, 11 September 2012 , 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 G overnment report (with a reference 
to relevant paragraph numbe rs);  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 give rise to significantly new issues.  The main points 
may be found on the Members' Website under "WTO Resources". 
II. ANSWERS IN WRITING BY THE MEMBER UNDER REVIEW 
7. Answers by the Member under review should 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 (2 October 2012).  Written answers will be made  available on the Members' Website four 
working days prior to the meeting (3 October 2012) .  Questions posed subsequently should be 
answered, to the extent possible, be fore the start of the second session of the meeting.  Questions left WT/TPR/299 
Page 2  
 
  unanswered at the end of the sec ond session should be answered in writing no later than one month 
after the meeting with some latitude in the Chai r'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 informa tion, in writing, on specific points raised.  Upon 
receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all Members. 
III. DISCUSSANT 
9. In consultation with the Member under review, the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review 
Body may choose discussants who, in their pers onal capacity, will introduce the discussions in the 
Body.  H.E. Mr. Yonov Frederick AGAH (Nigeria) w ill act as discussant for the review of Norway.  
IV. 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 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. 
11. 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. 
12. 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 
13. Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents: 
WT/TPR/G/269   Report by Norway WT/TPR/S/269   Norway:  Report by the Secretariat 
14. The press embargo for the review of Norway will end at 2.00 p.m. Geneva time on 
9 October 2012. 
VI. RECORD OF THE MEETING 
15. On a pilot basis, a podcast of the proceedings  in all three working languages will be made 
available on the Members' Website at the end of each half-day's session.   
16. 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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