WT/TPR/ 383 
11 October  2016 
(16-5453) Page: 1/2 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
 TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM T HE CHAIRPERSON OF TH E TRADE POLICY REVIE W BODY  
SRI LANKA 
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 i s scheduled for 1 and 3 November  2016 to conduct the fourth review of 
the trade policies and practices of Sri Lanka  (WTO/AIR/ TPR/41). 
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 ME ETING AND MAIN POINT S 
3. Members wishing to submit written questions to the Member under revi ew 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 Secreta riat (tprd@wto.org) by 5.30 p.m., Tuesday 18 October  
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 f ollowing 
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 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 se ssion 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 B Y THE MEMBER UNDER R EVIEW  
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 revi ew by the start of the meeting.  Questi ons 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 wit h some latitude in the Chair's discretion for Members 
reviewing a  very large number of questions . WT/TPR/ 383 
 
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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 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. Dr. Stephen Karau  (Kenya ) will act as discussant  for the review of Sri Lank a. 
4  STRUCTURE OF THE MEE TING  
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 sys tem; and 
d. general comments by way of assessment and evaluation.  
10. Meetin gs take place in two sessions. The first session is devoted to the opening statements by 
the Member under review and the discussant, and remark s and questions from the floor.  The 
discussi on 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 consultation with the Member.  
11. The speakers list will foll ow 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 PR ESS ARRANGEMENTS  
12. Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents:  
WT/TPR/G/ 347  Report by Sri Lanka  
 
WT/TPR/S/ 347  Sri Lanka : Report by th e Secretariat  
13. The press embargo for the review of Sri Lanka  will end at 2.00 p.m. Geneva time on 
1 November 2016. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETIN G 
14. The record of the meeting will be circulated as a draft to Members for comments on their own 
statements and placed on th e WTO website.  
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