WT/TPR/ 411 
19 February  2018 
(18-0444) Page: 1/2 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
  TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON  
OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY  
THE PHILIPPINES  
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 2 6 and 2 8 March  2018 to conduct the fifth review of the 
trade policies and practices of  the Philippines (WTO/AIR/TPR/ 65). 
2.  This communication sets out arrangements concerning the review meeting . In this connection, 
attention is also dr awn to the procedures for the conduct of reviews contained in the rules of 
procedure of the Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev.4).  
3.  Members' attention is drawn to the Philippines ' use of the former  "alternative" 
time-frame for submission of written ques tions and responses (see below) . This 
alternative time -frame refers to the time -limits prescribed  prior to the  adoption of the 
new rules . 
1  QUESTIONS IN WRITING IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING AND MAIN POINTS  
4.  Members wishing to submit written questions to the Memb er under review should do 
so at least four weeks before the review meeting , to al low 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 Policies Review D ivision of the Secretariat 
(tprd@wto.org ) by 5.30 p.m.  on Monday, 26 February  2018, at the latest . 
5.  In accordance with the rules of procedure of the Trade Policy Review Body 
(WT/TPR/6/Rev.4,  paragraph  17), Members are remi nded 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 (with a reference to relevant paragraph numbers) ; and other questions.  
6.  The Secretariat shall identify the main points contained in the qu estions submitted at least 
four weeks before a review meet ing, post them on the Members' w ebsite one week before the 
meeting, a nd distribute a revised list of main points during the first session of a review when 
questions received after the four -week deadline give rise to significantly new issues . The main 
points may be found on the Members' w ebsite under "Forthcoming Meetings : Documents for 
Meetings".  
2  ANSWER S IN WRI TING 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 writi ng by the Member under review one week prior to the start of the 
meeting (19 March  2018). Written answers will be made available on the Members' 
website  four working days prior to the meeting  (20 March  2018). Questions posed WT/TPR/ 411 
- 2 - 
  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.  
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 Trade Policy Review Body 
may choose a discussant who, in her/his personal capacity, will introduce the  discussions in the 
Body. H.E.  Mr Stephen C. de Boer  (Canada ) will act as discussant for the review of the Philippines . 
4  STRUCTURE OF THE MEETING  
10.  Trade policy reviews cover four broad headings:  
a. appreciation of the full range of the Member's tra de 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 w ay 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 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.  
12.  As indicated in the rules of procedure of the Trade Polic y Review Body 
(WT/TPR/6/Rev.4,  paragraph 21), t he speakers list will follow the order in which questions are 
received by the Secretariat and , in the event of more than one batch  of questions , the final batch 
will determine the order of speakers . Delegation s 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 sessio n of that meeting, for Members' advance information.  
5  DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS  
13.  Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the 
following  documents:  
WT/TPR/G/ 368 Report by  the Philippines  
WT/TPR/S/ 368 Philippines : Report by the Secretariat  
 
14.  The press embargo for the review of the Philippines  will end at 2 p.m. Geneva time on 
26 March  2018. 
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 pl aced on the WTO website.  
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