WT/TPR /419  
 
8 August 2018  
(18-5016) Page: 1/3 
Trade Policy Review Body    
 
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON  
OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY  
SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF TAIWAN , PENGHU , KINMEN AND MATSU 
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 12 and 14 September  2018 to conduct the fourth review 
of the trade policies and practices of the Separate Customs Territory  of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen 
and Matsu (WTO/AIR/TPR/73 ). 
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 t he Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev.4).  
3.  Members' attention is drawn to the use of the "alternative" time -frame by the 
Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu's  for submission of 
written questions and responses (see below).  
1  QUESTIONS IN WRITING IN  ADVANCE OF THE MEETI NG AND MAIN POINTS  
4.  Members wishing to submit written questions to the Member under review should do 
so at least five weeks before the review meeting, to al low replies to be submitted 
one week prior to the first sess ion 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.  on Wednesday, 8 August  2018, at the latest.  Delega tions are 
encouraged to use the TPR Q&A online system ( https://tprqa.wto.org ) to send their 
advance written questions using the username and password provided by the 
Secretariat. The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwa n, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu has 
agreed to use this system to provide answers to the questions submitted through the 
system.  
5.  In accordance with the rules of procedure 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 (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 
five 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 five-week deadline give rise to significantly new issues. The main 
points may be found on the Members' website under "Forthcoming Meetings: Documents for 
Meetings".  WT/TPR/419  
 
- 2 - 
 
  2  ANSWERS  IN WRI TING BY THE MEMBER UNDER REVIEW  
7.  Answers by the Member under review should be distributed in writing. Advance questions 
subm itted by the five-week deadline before the start of the TPRB review should be 
answered in writing by the Member under review one week prior to the start of the 
meeting ( 4 September  2018). Written answers will be made available on the Members' 
website four working days prior to the meeting ( 5 September  2018). 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 answe red 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 Chairpe rson 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 Marc Vanheukelen ( European Union ) will act as discussant for the review of  the 
Separate Customs Territory of  Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu . 
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 Member under review will reply to questions, is based 
on main themes identified after the ope ning 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 Policy Review Body 
(WT/TPR/6/Rev.4,  paragraph 21), the 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. Delegations not submitting written questions will continue to 
speak second, in the order in which their f lags 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 session of that meeting, for Members' advance information.  
5  DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS  
13.  Repor ts by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the 
following  documents:  
WT/TPR/G/ 377 Report by the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and 
    Matsu  
WT/TPR/S/ 377 Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu :  
    Report by the Secretariat  WT/TPR/419  
 
- 3 - 
 
  14.  The press embargo for the review of the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, 
Kinmen and Matsu  will end at 2 p.m.  Geneva time on 12 September  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 placed on the WTO website.  
__________