WT/TPR/ 391 
 
17 January 20 17 
(17-0296) Page: 1/3 
Trade Policy Review Body    
 
AMENDMENT OF THE TRA DE POLICY REVIEW MEC HANISM  
NOTE FROM THE CHAIR PERSON  
 
In December 2016, in the Sixth Appraisal of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism, Members 
agreed to launch the necessary procedures, pursuant to Article X:8 of the Marrakesh Agreement 
Establishing the W orld Trade Organization , in order to change the c urrent review cycles (2, 4 or 
6 years) as specified in paragraph  C(ii) of Annex 3 to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the 
World Trade Organization  to 3, 5 or 7 years. The new arrangemen t will be phased in starting from 
2019.  
 
In light of this, attached is a draft for a proposal by the Trade Policy Review Body for a 
decision by the General Council on an amendment to the Trade Policy Review Mechanism  
contained in Annex 3 to the Marrakesh A greement Establishing the W orld Trade Organization , 
effective as of 2019, being put forward by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body.  
 
 
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 WT/TPR/391  
 
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  AMENDMENT OF THE TRA DE POLI CY REVIEW MECHANISM  
PROPOSAL FOR A DECIS ION ON AN AMENDMENT TO TH E TRADE POLICY REVIE W MECHANISM  
At its meeting of [date], the Trade Policy Review Body decided to submit, in accordance with 
paragraph 8 of Article X of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, 
the attached proposal for a decision  on an amendment to the Trade Policy Review Mechanism  
contained in Annex 3 to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the W orld Trade Organization , 
effective as of 2019.  
 
 
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 WT/TPR/391  
 
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  AMENDMENT OF THE TRA DE POLICY REVIEW MEC HANISM  
DRAFT DECISION OF [D ATE] 
The General Council;  
 
Having regard to paragraph 8 of Article X of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the 
World Trade Organization ("the WTO Agreement");  
 
Conducting the functions of the Ministerial Conference in the interval between meetings 
pursuant  to paragraph 2 of Article IV of the WTO Agreement;  
 
Recalling the objectives set out in paragraph A of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism 
contained in Annex 3 to the WTO  Agreement;  
 
Noting the consensus at the Trade Policy Review Body in December 2016 to l aunch the 
necessary procedures in order to change, as of 2019, the current review cycles under the Trade 
Policy Review Mechanism contained in Annex 3 to the WTO  Agreement;  
 
Having considered the proposal to amend the English, French and Spanish versions of  the 
Trade Policy Review Mechanism contained in Annex 3 to the WTO  Agreement submitted by the 
Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/…);  
 
Noting the consensus to approve this proposed amendment to the English, French and 
Spanish versions of the Trade Policy Revi ew Mechanism contained in Annex 3 to the 
WTO Agreement;  
 
Decides as follows:  
 
1. The Trade Policy Review Mechanism contained in Annex 3 to the WTO  Agreement shall be 
amended as follows : 
 
(a) the phrase "every two years" in the third sentence of paragraph C(ii ) shall be replaced 
with "every three years";  
 
(b) the phrase "every four years" in the fourth sentence of paragraph C(ii) shall be replaced 
with "every five years"; and  
 
(c) the phrase "every six years" in the fifth sentence of paragraph C(ii) shall be re placed 
with "every seven years".  
 
2. The amendments set out in paragraph 1 of this Decisio n shall take effect for all 
WTO Members, in accordance with the provisions of para graph 8 of Article X of the 
WTO Agreement, on 1  January 2019.  
 
3. The Director -General of the World Trade Organization sha ll promptly furnish to each 
WTO Member a certified copy of the relevant provisions of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism 
contained in Annex 3 to the WTO  Agreement as amended by this Decision.  
 
4. The amendments set out in paragr aph 1 of this Decision shall be registered in accordance 
with the provisions of Article  102 of the Charter of the United Nations.  
 
 
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