WT/TPR/ 404 
4 October  2017 
(17-5307) Page: 1/2 
Trade Policy Review Body    
 
 TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM T HE CHAIRPERSON  
OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY  
WAEMU  MEMBER COUNTRIES  
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 scheduled for  25 and 27 October  2017 to conduct the first review of 
the trade policies and practices of the WAEMU m ember  countries  (WTO/AIR/ TPR/58). 
2.  This communication sets out arrangements concerning the review meeting. In this connection, 
attention is also drawn to the procedures for the conduct of reviews contained in the rules of 
procedure of the Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev. 4). 
1  QUESTIONS IN WRITING  IN ADVANCE OF THE ME ETING AND MAIN POINT S 
3.  Members wishing to submit written ques tions to the Member s 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., 
Wednes day, 11 October  2017, at the latest . 
4.  In line with the rules of procedure of the TPRB (WT/TPR/6/Rev.4, paragraph 17) , 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 Government report (with a reference to relevant 
paragraph numbers);  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 th e first session of a review when 
questions received after the two-week deadline give rise to significantly n ew issues. The main 
points may be found on the Members' Websit e under "Forthcoming Meetings: Documents for 
Meetings".  
2  ANSWERS IN WRITING B Y THE MEMB ERS UNDER REVIEW  
6.  Answers by the Member s under review sho uld be distributed in writing; advance questions 
submitted by the two -week deadline before the start of the TPRB review should be answered in 
writing by the Member s under revi ew by the start of the me eting.  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 one month after th e meeting with some latitude in the Chair's discretion for Members 
reviewing a  very large number of questions . WT/TPR/ 404 
 
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  7.  In the course of the discussions at the review meeting, the Member s under review may indicate 
that they  intend to provide supplementary informati on, in writi ng, on specific points raised. Upon 
receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all Members.  
3  DISCUSSANT  
8.  In consultation with the Member s under review, the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review 
Body may cho ose a discussant who, in her/his personal capacity, will introdu ce the discussions in 
the Body . H.E. Mr. Didier CHAMBOVEY (Switzerland ) will act as discussant for the review of  the 
WAEMU member countries . 
4  STRUCTURE OF THE MEE TING  
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 and developmental needs, including the external 
environment;  
c. impact of the Member's trade policies and practices on the f unctioning of th e multilateral 
trading system; and 
d. general comments by way of assessment and evaluation.  
10.  Meeti ngs take place in two sessions.  The first session is devoted to the opening statements by 
the Member s under review and the discussant, and remark s and questions from the floor.  The 
discussion in the second session, when the Member s under review will reply to questions, is based 
on main themes identified after the opening meeting by the Chairperson, the discussant and the 
Secretariat in consultation with the Member s. 
11.  As indicated in the rules of procedure for TPRB meetings (WT/TPR/6/Rev.4, paragraph 21), 
the speakers list will follow the order in which questions are rec eived by the Secretariat and in the 
event of more than one batch, the final batch w ill determine the order of speakers.  Delegations not 
submitting written questions will continue to speak second, in the order in which their flags are 
raised.  On the day before each review meeting, the Secretariat will post on the WTO Members' 
website a pr ovisional list of speakers for the first session of that meeting, for Members' advance 
information . 
5  DOCUMENTATION AND PR ESS ARRANGEMENTS  
12.  Reports by the Member s under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents:  
WT/TPR/G/ 362  Report by the WAEMU Member Countries  
WT/TPR/S/ 362  WAEMU Member Countries : Report by the Secretariat  
13.  The press embargo for th is review will end at 2.00 p.m. Geneva time on 25 October  2017. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETIN G 
14.  The record of the meeting will be circulated as a dr aft to Members for comments on their own 
statements and placed on the WTO website.  
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