WT/TPR/374  
25 May 2016  
(16-2822)  Page: 1/2  
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
  TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON 
OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY 
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 
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 15 and 17 June 2016 to conduct the second review of 
the trade policies and practices of the Democrat ic Republic of the Congo (WTO/AIR/TPR/31). 
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 Review Division of the Secretariat (tprd@wto.org) by 5.30 p.m., Wednesday, 1 June 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 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 Member 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 Member 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. WT/TPR/374 
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  7.  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 
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 introduce the discussions in the Body. H.E. Mr Roderick VAN SCHREVEN (Netherlands) will act as discussant for the review of the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo. 
4  STRUCTURE 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 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 Member under review and the discussant, and remarks and questions from the floor. 
The discussion in the second session, when the Memb er under review will reply to questions, is 
based on main themes identified after the openin g meeting by the Chairperson, the discussant and 
the Secretariat in consultation 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/339   Report by Democratic Republic of the Congo 
WT/TPR/S/339   Democratic Republic of the Congo: Report by the Secretariat 
13.  The press embargo for the review of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will end 
at 2 p.m. Geneva time on 15 June 2016. 
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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