WT/TPR/ 381 
7 September  2016 
(16-4755) Page: 1/2 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
  TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY  
RUSSIAN FEDERATION  
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 Rev iew Body i s scheduled for 28 and 30 September  2016 to conduct the first review 
of the trade policies and practices of the Russian Federation  (WTO/AIR/ TPR/3 8). 
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 Member 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  Revie w Division of the Secretariat (tprd@wto.org) by 5.30 p.m., 
Wednesday , 14 September 2016, 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 thei r 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 t he 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 m ain points 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 Member under review should 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 review by th e start 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 o ne month after the meeting , with some latitude in the Chair's discretion for Members 
reviewing a very large number of questions . WT/TPR/ 381 
- 2 - 
  7.  In the course of the discussions at the review meeting, the Member under review may indicate 
that it intends to provide supplem entary information, in writing, 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 under review, the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Revi ew Body  
may choose a discussant who, in her/his personal capacity, will introduce the discussions in the 
Body. H.E. Mr. Vangelis VITALIS  (New Zealand ) will act as discussant for the review of the Russian 
Federation . 
4  STRUCTURE OF THE MEETING  
9.  Trade Policy Re views 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 practic es 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 Member under review and the discussant, a nd remarks 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 cons ultation with the Member . 
11.  The speakers list will follow the order 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 
Ambassadors present and asking for the floor.  
5  DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS  
12.  Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents : 
WT/TPR/G/3 45   Report by the Russian Federation  
WT/TPR/S/3 45   Russian Federation : Report by the Secretariat  
13.  The press embargo for the revi ew of the Russian Federation  will end at  2 p.m. Geneva time on 
28 September  2016. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETING  
14.  The record of the meeting will b e circulated as a draft to Members for comments on their own  
statements and placed on the WTO website . 
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