WT/TPR/453  
6 January  2021 
(21-0144) Page: 1/2 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
  
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY  
NICARAGUA  
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 27 and 29 January  2021 to conduct the  fourth  review of 
the trade policies and practices of Nicaragua  (WTO/AIR/ TPR/101). 
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 for meetings of the Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev. 4). 
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 submitted before  
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 ., 
Wednesday , 13 January  2021, at the lat est. Delegations are informed that Nicaragua has opted 
for the traditional way of handling questions and answers . 
4. In accordance  with the rules of procedure for meetings of the  Trade Policy Review Body 
(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 (wit h 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 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 BY THE MEMBER UNDER REVIEW  
6. Answers 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 review by the 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 shoul d 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 . WT/TPR/453  
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  7. In the course of the discussions at the review meeting, the Member under review may indi cate 
that it intends to provide supplementary information, 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 under review, the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body 
may choose a discussant who, in her/his personal capacity, will introduc e the discussions in the 
Body. H.E.  Mr Federico Villegas (Argentina)  will act as discussant  for the review of Nicaragua . 
4  STRUCTU RE OF THE MEETING  
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 Me mber'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. Meetings take place in two sessions . The first session is devoted to the opening statements by 
the Member u nder review and the discussant, and 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 discu ssant and the 
Secretariat in consultation with the Member.  
11. As indicated in the rules of procedure for meetings of the Trade Policy Review Body 
(WT/TPR/6/Rev.4, paragraph 21), t he speakers list will follow the order in which questions are 
received by the Se cretariat 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, 
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 provisional list of speakers for the first day of that meeting, 
for Members' advance information . 
5  DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS  
12. Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents:  
WT/TPR/G/ 404 Report by Nicaragua  
WT/TPR/S/ 404 Nicaragua : Report by the Secretariat  
13. The press embargo for the review of Nicaragua  will end at 6.00 p.m. Geneva time on  
27 January  2021. 
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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