WT/TPR/ 393 
3 April 2017 
(17-1805) Page: 1/2 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM T HE CHAIRPERSON OF TH E TRADE POLICY REVIE W BODY  
BELIZE 
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 s cheduled for 24 and 26 April 2017 to conduct the third review of the 
trade policies and practices of Belize  (WTO/AIR/ TPR/49). 
2. This communication sets out arrangements  concerning the review meeting.  In this connection, 
attention is also drawn to the procedu res for the conduct of reviews contained in the rules of 
procedure of the Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev.3).  
1  QUESTIONS IN WRITING  IN ADVANCE OF THE ME ETING AND MAIN POINT S 
3. Members wishing to submit written questions to the Member under review shoul d 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 (tp rd@wto.org) by 5.30 p.m., Monday  10 April 
2017, at the latest . 
4. 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 Government report (with a 
reference to relevant paragraph numbers);  and other questions.  
5. The Secret ariat 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 si gnificantly new issues. The main 
points may be found on the Members' Websi te under "Forthcoming Meetings:  Documents for 
Meetings".  
2  ANSWERS IN WRITING B Y THE MEMBER UNDER R EVIEW  
6. Answe rs by the Member 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 under revi ew by the start of the meeting.  Questions posed s ubsequently 
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 the meeting with some lati tude in the Chair's discretion for Members 
reviewing a  very large number of questions . WT/TPR/ 393 
 
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7. In the course of the discussions at the review meeting, the Member under review may 
indicate that it intends to provide supplementary information, in writi ng, on specifi c points raised. 
Upon receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all Members.  
3  DISCUSSANT  
8. In consultation with the Member under review, the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review 
Body may choose a discussant who, in he r/his personal capacity, will introduc e the discussions in 
the Body. H.E. Mr. Peter Matt  (Liechtenstein ) will act as discussant  for the review of Belize . 
4  STRUCTURE OF THE MEE TING  
9. Trade policy reviews cover four broad headings:  
a. appreciation of the full rang e 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 functioning of the multilateral 
trading syst em; and 
d. general comments by way of assessment and evaluation.  
10. Meetin gs take place in two sessions. The first session is devoted to the opening statements by 
the Member under review and the discussant, and remark s and questions from the floor.  The 
discussion in the  second session, when the Member 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.  
11. The speakers list will follow the or der in which questions are received by the Secretariat  and 
in the event of more than one batch, the final batch will determine the order of speakers. 
Delegations not submitting written questions will continue to speak second,  with precedence given 
to Ambas sadors present and asking for the floor.  
5  DOCUMENTATION AND PR ESS ARRANGEMENTS  
12. Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents:  
WT/TPR/G/ 353  Report by Belize  
 
WT/TPR/S/ 353  Belize : Report by the Secretariat  
13. The press embargo for the review of Belize  will end at 2.00 p.m. Geneva time on 24 April  
2017. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETIN G 
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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