WT/TPR/OV/21/Corr.1  
 
7 Decem ber 2018 
(18-7752) Page: 1/3 
Trade Policy Review Body    
 
OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPM ENTS  
IN THE INTERNATIONAL  TRADING ENVIRONMENT  
ANNUAL REPORT BY THE  DIRECTOR -GENERAL1 
 
(Mid-October 201 7 to mid -October  2018)  
Corrigendum* 
Note a to Table 3.19 should read as follows:  
Table 3.19 Concerns raised at the TRIMs Committee  
Measure implemented by  Member(s)  
raising the concern  
Argentina  
Act 27,263 on the development and strengthening of auto -partsa Mexico  
China  
Local content in cybersecurity measures (including provisions on 
insurance system informatization)b European Union and United States  
Indonesia  
Requirements for 4G LTE mobile devicesc European Union, Japan and  
United States  
Provisions in the energy sector (mining, oil and gas)d Canada, European Union, Japan 
and United States  
Industry Law and Trade Lawe European Union and Japan  
Minimum local product requirement for the modern retail sectorf European Union and Japan  
Measures relating to investment in the telecommunications sectorg Japan  
Requirements for dairy importation and distribution  European Union and United States  
Nigeria  
Guidelines in information communications technology (ICT)h United States  
                                                
1 This Report covers the period mid -October 2017 to mid -October 2018. It is presented pursuant to 
Paragraph G of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism mandate and aims to assist the Trade Policy Review Body 
to undertake its annual overview of developments in th e international trading environment that are having an 
impact on the multilateral trading system. The Report is issued under the sole responsibility of the 
Director -General. It has no legal effect on the rights and obligations of Members, nor does it have any legal 
implications with respect to the conformity of any measure noted in the Report with any WTO Agreements or 
any provisions thereof.   
* In English only.  WT/TPR/OV/21/Corr.1  
 
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  Measure implemented by  Member(s)  
raising the concern  
Russian Federation  
Measures implementing the Russian Federation's import substitution 
policyi European Union and United States  
Turkey   
Localization policy in the pharmaceutical sector  European Union and United States  
a  Documents G/TRIMS/Q/ARG/1 ; G/TRIMS/Q/ARG/2; G/TRIMS/Q/ARG/3; G/TRIMS/Q/ARG/4; and 
G/TRIMS/Q/ARG/ 5. 
b  Document G/TRIMS/Q/CHN/1.  
c  Documents G/TRIMS/W/148 and G/TRIMS/W/162 . 
d  Documents G/TRIMS/W/70; G/TRIMS/W/74; G/TRIMS/W/79; G/TRIMS/W/88; G/TRIMS/W/100; 
G/TRIMS/W/108; G/TRIMS/W/123; G/TRIMS/W/128; G/TRIMS/W/137; and G/TRIMS/W/137/Corr.1 . 
e  Documents G/TRIMS/W/138; G/TRIMS/W/140; G/TRIMS/W/157; and G/TRIMS/W/158 . 
f  Documents  G/TRIMS/W/139; G/TRIMS/W/141; G/TRIMS/W/159; and G/TRIMS/W/161 . 
g  Documents G/TRIMS/W/61; G/TRIMS/W/63; G/TRIMS/W/71; G/TRIMS/W/75; G/TRIMS/W/78; 
G/TRIMS/W/80; G/TRIMS/W/86; G/TRIMS/W/96; G/TRIMS/W/104; G/TRIMS/W/131; 
G/TRIMS/W/154; G/TRIMS/W/160; and G/TRIMS/Q/IDN/1 . 
h  Document G/TRIMS/Q/NGA/1.  
i  Documents G/TRIMS/Q/RUS/4; G/TRIMS/Q/RUS/5; G/TRIMS/Q/RUS/6; G/TRIMS/Q/RUS/7; 
G/TRIMS/Q/RUS/8; and G/TRIMS/Q/RUS/9.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
Paragraph 3.121 should read as follows:  
3.121  At the same time, Me mbers noted that merchandise exports from the WAEMU countries 
were highly concentrated, both in terms of products and markets, and encouraged diversification. 
Côte d'Ivoire's agricultural sector was mentioned by some as an example of successful 
diversifica tion. Participants were of the view that further reforms to the transport infrastructure and 
increased electricity supply should contribute to the diversification efforts, mainly towards 
industrialization. Members urged the WAEMU countries to establish WTO -consistent SPS regimes 
based on modern risk -management approaches to, inter alia , avoid outright import bans on products 
such as meat and poultry. They noted that the implementation of the ECOWAS CET in 2015, with a 
fifth band of 35% on some 130 tariff li nes, increased nominal and effective protection. It also 
increased the number of lines on which the applied rates exceed the bound levels for  all countries 
except Guinea -Bissau and Togo. The country -specific flexibilities offered by the new tariff regime 
during the five -year transition period have been prone to national differences. In addition, many 
Members mentioned the numerous other duties and charges that further complicate the border tax 
system, and called upon the countries to rationalize them with a  view to achieving full compliance 
with their WTO commitments. Some Members were of the view that the adoption of a single entry 
system ("libre pratique") would enhance the smooth functioning of the Customs Union. Noting that 
all WAEMU countries also parti cipate in ECOWAS, Members called for full harmonization of the trade 
regimes of the two communities, and were interested in learning  more about the potential benefits 
of the Continental Free Trade Area under negotiation. They encouraged those who had not y et 
ratified the TFA  to do so. The WAEMU countries were also reminded to submit their Categories A, B 
and C notifications under the TFA, and to continue efforts to streamline and automatize trade 
procedures. Other areas for improvement by the WAEMU countrie s underlined by Members included 
compliance with WTO notification obligations, and trade statistics. Several Members encouraged the 
WAEMU countries to participate in the Agreement on Government Procurement  (GPA) . They 
commended those WAEMU countries that h ad accepted the Amendment Protocol to the TRIPS 
Agreement, and encouraged the others to follow suit. Furthermore, some Members called upon the 
WAEMU countries to strengthen their intellectual property regimes, noting that only one of them had 
ratified the 2015 revision of the Bangui Agreement.  
Paragraph 3.164 should read as follows:  
3.164  Disbursements of Aid for Trade reached U$38.7 billion in 2016, a decline of USD 1.6 billion 
as compared to 2015 when disbursements reached USD 40.3 billion. Total commitme nts recorded 
in 2016 also fell by USD 4.2 billion to USD 51.0 billion between 2015 and 2016. Aid for Trade 
disbursements to LDCs slowed, with a drop of USD 0.8 billion to USD 9.8 billion in 2016.  Aid for 
Trade commitments to LDCs also fell from USD 17.7 bi llion in 2015 to USD 14.7 billion in 
2016.  Total disbursements of Aid for Trade since 2006 stand at more than USD 342.3 billion in 
official development aid, and a further USD 264.0 billion in other official flows.  WT/TPR/ OV/21/Corr.1  
 
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  Chart 2.4 should be replaced as follows:  
Chart 2.4  Volume of exports and imports of selected economies, 201 2Q1 - 2018Q2  
(seasonally -adjusted volume indices, 2012Q1 = 100)  
 
Note:  Data for the United States, Japan and the E uropean Union were obtained from national statistical 
 sources , while figures for Brazil and Developing Asia are seasonally -adjusted Secretariat estimates.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat and UNCTAD . 
__________  
 
708090100110120130140
2012Q1
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Q3
Q4
2013Q1
Q2
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Q4
2014Q1
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2015Q1
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2016Q1
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2017Q1
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2018Q1
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United States EU-extra trade EU-intra trade
Developing Asia Brazil JapanChart Coleman.4
Volume of exports and imports of selected economies, 2012Q1 -2018Q2
708090100110120130140
2012Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2013Q1
Q2
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Q4
2014Q1
Q2
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2015Q1
Q2
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2016Q1
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2017Q1
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2018Q1
Q2(Seasonally adjusted volume indices, 2012Q1 = 100)
Exports
Imports
Source: WTO Secretariat / UNCTAD.Note: Data for the United States, Japan and the EU were obtained from national statistical sources while figures 
for Brazil and Developing Asia are seasonally adjusted Secretariat estimates.