WT/TPR/312  
 
2 April 2013  
(13-1694)  Page: 1/2  
Trade Policy Review Body    
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY 
SWITZERLAND AND LIECHTENSTEIN  
Arrangements for Review Meeting 
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 23 and 25 April 2013 to conduct the fourth joint review 
of the trade policies and practices of Swit zerland and Liechtenstein (WTO/AIR/4097). 
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.3). 
1  QUESTIONS IN WRITING IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING AND MAIN POINTS 
3. Members wishing to submit written questions to the Members 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 Se cretariat (tprd@wto.org) by 5.30 p.m., 
Tuesday 9 April 2013, at the latest.  
4. In line with the results of the 4
th 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); thos e 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 po ints during the first session of a review when 
questions received after the two-week deadline give rise to significantly new issues. The main points may be found on the Members' Website under "Forthcoming meetings: Documents for 
Meetings". 
2  ANSWERS IN WRITING BY THE MEMBER UNDER REVIEW 6. Answers by the Members under review should be distributed in writing; advance questions 
submitted by the two-week deadline before the star t of the TPRB review should be answered in 
writing by the Members under review by the star t of the meeting. 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 the meeting with some latitude in the Chair's discretion for Members 
reviewing a very large number of questions. 
7. In the course of the discussions at the revi ew meeting, the Members under review may 
indicate that they intend to provide supplementary information, in writing, on specific points WT/TPR/312 
 
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  raised.  Upon receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all 
Members. 
3  DISCUSSANT 8. In consultation with the Members under review, the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review 
Body may choose a discussant who, in her/his personal capacity, will introduce the discussions in 
the Body. H.E. Ms Mariam Md Salleh (Malaysia) will  act as discussant for the review of Switzerland 
and Liechtenstein. 
4  STRUCTURE OF THE MEETING 
9. Trade policy reviews cover four broad headings: 
a. appreciation of the full range of th e 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 system; and 
d. general comments by way of assessment and evaluation. 
10. Meetings take place in two sessions.  The first session is devoted to the opening statements 
by the Members under review and the discussant, and remarks and questions from the floor. The 
discussion in the second session, when the Members under review will reply to questions, is based 
on main themes identified after the opening m eeting by the Chairperson, the discussant and the 
Secretariat in consultation with the Members. 
11. The speakers list will follow the order in whic h questions are received by the Secretariat with 
precedence given to Ambassadors present and asking for the floor. 
5  DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS 12. Reports by the Members under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents: 
WT/TPR/G/280  Reports by Switzerland and Liechtenstein 
WT/TPR/S/280  Switzerland and Liechtenstein:  Report by the Secretariat 
13. The press embargo for the review of Switzerland and Liechtenstein will end at 2.00 p.m. 
Geneva time on 23 April 2013. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETING 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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