WT/TPR/352  
17 June 2015  
(15-3150)  Page: 1/2  
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
  TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY 
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC  
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 (TPRB) is scheduled for 22 and 24 July 2015 to conduct the 
fourth review of the trade policies and practices of the Dominican Republic (WTO/AIR/TPR/10). 
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 revised rules of procedure for meetings of the TPRB (WT/TPR/6/Rev.3). 
3.  Members' attention is drawn to the Domini can Republic's use of the "alternative" 
time-frame for submission of written questions and responses (see below). 
1  QUESTIONS IN WRITING IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING AND MAIN POINTS 
4.  Members wishing to submit written question s to the Member under review should do 
so at least four weeks before the review me eting to allow replies to be submitted one 
week prior to the first session of the meeting. For the forthcoming review, such questions 
should therefore be with the Trade Polici es Review Division of the Secretariat ( tprd@wto.org ) 
by 5.30 p.m., Wednesday 24 June 2015 , at the latest. 
5.  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 numbe rs); those concerning the Government report 
(with a reference to relevant paragraph numbers); and other questions. 
6.  The Secretariat shall identify the main points contained in the questions submitted at least 
four 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 four-week deadline gi ve 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 
7.  Answers by the Member under review should be distributed in writing; advance questions 
submitted by the four-week deadline before the start of the TPRB review should be 
answered in writing by the Member under re view one week prior to the start of the 
meeting (15 July 2015). Written answers wi ll be made available on the Members' 
website four working days prior to the meeting (16 July 2015). 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 WT/TPR/352 
- 2 - 
  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. 
8.  In the course of the discussions at the review meeting, the Member under review may indicate 
that it intends to provide supplementary information, in writing, on specific points raised. 
Upon receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all Members. 
3  DISCUSSANT 
9.  In consultation with the Member under review, the Chairperson of the TPRB may choose 
discussants who, in their personal capacity, will introduce the discussions in the TPRB. 
H.E. Mr Estaban B. Conejos Jr. (Philippines) will act as discussant for the review of the Dominican Republic. 
4  STRUCTURE OF THE MEETING 
10.  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 Member's trade policies and practices on the functioning of the multilateral 
trading system; and 
d. general comments by way of assessment and evaluation. 
11.  Meetings take place in two sessions. The first session is devoted to the opening statements by 
the Member under review and the discussant, and remarks and questions from the floor. The discussion in the second session, when the Me mber under review will reply to questions, 
is based on main themes identified after the op ening meeting by the Chairperson, the discussant 
and the Secretariat in consultation with the Member. 
12.  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 
13.  Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents: 
WT/TPR/G/319 Report by the Dominican Republic 
WT/TPR/S/319 Dominican Republic: Report by the Secretariat 
14.  The press embargo for the review of the Dominican Republic will end at 2.00 p.m. Geneva 
time on 22 July 2015. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETING 
15.  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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