RESTRICTED  
  
WT/TPR/ W/155 
 
31 October  2018 
(18-6819) Page: 1/6 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
DRAFT  REPORT OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY F OR 201 8 
Chairperson: H.E. Ambassador  Eloi Laourou (Benin ) 
1. This Report by the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) provides a brief asse ssment of its 
activities in 201 8. The annexed tables provide information on Members reviewed up to the end of 
2018, the geographical coverage of the reviews conducted to date, the programme of reviews for 
2019, and candidates for revie w in 20 20. 
Activities of the TPRB  
2. By the end of 2018, the TPRB will have conducted 485 reviews since its inception in 1989 (up 
from 467 in 2017), at 377 review meetings (Annex I) , cover ing 155 out of 164  Members.1 A total of 
18 Members will have been revie wed in 2018 (Annex  II). The programme included the reviews of 
five LDCs. An increasing number (50%) of reviewed Members have opted for the alternative timeline 
for the Q&A process.  In 2018, a pilot project to handle online the Q&A process was put in place.  
During the year, eight Members used the online application.  
3. The review process, from start to finish, run s smoothly. The Secretariat reports continue to 
be prepared in close consultation with the authorities of the Members under review , and are always 
delivered on time . Responses to requests for data, documentation and information have generally 
been provided within the suggested deadlines. In preparing its reports, the Secretariat continue s its 
efforts to reduce the burden on Members under review by us ing, to the extent possible, other sources 
of documentation, including Members' official websites or other credible sources. Essential elements 
to the process are the responses by the authorities to draft reports , and visits to capitals by teams 
from the S ecretariat.  
4. There were a few adjustments to the programme of reviews during the course of the year. 
Efforts continue to be made to space TPRB meetings as evenly as possible throughout the year and , 
to the extent possible , to avoid clashes with other meeti ngs at the WTO so as to reduce pressure on 
Members.  
5. According to the Amendment of Annex 3, the new cycle of reviews is to be implemented as of 
2019.  The programme for 201 9 comprises 13 meetings , covering 17 Members (Annex  III). Annex  IV 
provides the list of Members that can be considered as candidates for review in 20 20.  
Coverage of LDCs and follow -up to TPRB meetings  
6. Trade Policy Review s of LDCs have been beneficial to them in terms of improving their 
understanding of WTO Agreements, as well as encouraging their compliance with, and integration 
into, the multilateral trading system. Of the 36 least -developed Members of the WTO, 32 will ha ve 
been reviewed by the end of 2018. The first TPR of Vanuatu was held in 2018.  
                                                
1 Members not yet reviewed by end -2018 are: Afghanistan; Cuba; Kazakhstan; Lao People's Democratic 
Republic (to be reviewed in 2019); Liberia; Samoa (to be reviewed in 2019); Seychelles; Tajikistan; and 
Yemen.  WT/TPR/W/ 155 
 
- 2 - 
 
  7. At the request of the Member concerned, the Secretariat organizes follow -up workshops to 
discuss the outcome of its TPR with domestic stakeholders . In addition to disseminating  the 
results/outcomes of the Review, the Secretariat also works closely with the Member u nder review to 
plan a workshop which  reflect s its priorities and technical assistance needs , based on the TPR report 
and the discussions at the TPRB  meeting . In 201 8, seven  national follow -up workshops , for Angola,  
Benin , Colombia , Egypt,  Paraguay,  the Philippines , and Togo,  were, or are to be , conducted.  A 
regional follow -up workshop for the eight WAEMU countries was also organized in Benin.  
Monitoring of trade and trade -related measures  
8. The TPRM requires Members, in between their reviews, to provide information on significant 
trade policy changes. The Secretariat uses this and other information to prepare, on a regular basis, 
reports on the trade and trade -related developments of Members and Observer Governments. The 
information  is consolidated and presented in the Director -General's Overview of Developments in 
the International Trading Environment, a s called for by paragraph G of Annex 3 of the Marrakesh 
Agreement. Cooperation and interes t from Members in the trade monitoring exercise remain very 
positive , as noted during the discussions for the Sixth Appraisal of the TPRM  and in the regular 
meetings of the TPRB on trade monitoring . However , some Members have yet to participate actively 
in the exercise , and the Secretariat continues to reach out to improve the participation of all Members 
and Observers.  
9. The latest trade monitoring report covered measures taken during the period from 
mid-October 201 7 to mid -May 201 8.2 It provided information on the latest trends and developments 
with respect to trade -restrictive measures as well as those facilitating trade. It reveal ed a number 
of important trends in global trade policy making . In particular, w hile WTO Members continue d to 
implement trade -facilitating measures  during th e review period, the increase recorded in trade -
restrictive measures was a worrying trend . This came  at a time of increasing trade tensions. 
Moreover, a lthough the trade coverage of import -facilitating measu res was larger than that of 
import -restrictive ones,  the ratio of the former  over the latter  fell significantly during the review 
period. The report underlined the uncertainty created by the proliferation of trade  restricti ons at a 
time when  the global eco nomy had begun to generate sustained economic momentum following the 
global financial crisis . It emphasized that further escalation could carry potentially large risks for the 
multilateral system , and its resilience and functionality in the face of these c hallenges w ould depend 
on each and every one of its Members. The report called on WTO Members to use all means at their 
disposal to de -escalate the situation and promote further trade recovery.  
 
10. The Director -General's 2018 Overview of Developments in the International Trading 
Environment is scheduled to be discussed by the TPRB in December 2018.   
                                                
2 An informal meeting of the TPRB was held on 25 July 2018 to discuss the trade monitoring report 
contained in document WT/TPR/OV/W/ 12. WT/TPR/W/ 155 
 
- 3 - 
 
  ANNEX I   
TRADE POLICY REVIEWS   
WTO Members reviewed, 1989 -2018 
Europe/Middle East  Asia/Pacific  Africa  America  
Albania (2)  Australia (7)  Angolaa (2) Argentina (4) 
Armenia (2)  Bangladesha (4) Benina, 2 (4) Antigua and Barbuda2 (3) 
Austria1 Brunei Darussalam (3) Botswana2 (4) Barbados (3)  
Bahrain, Kingdom of2 (3) Cambodiaa (2) Burkina Fasoa, 2 (4) Belize (3)  
Bulgaria1 China (7 ) Burundia, 2 (2) Bolivia, Plurinational State of (4)  
Croatia1 Fiji (3) Cabo Verde  (1) Brazil (7)  
Cyprus1 Hong Kong, China (8 ) Cameroon2 (4) Canada (10)  
Czech Republic1 (2) India (6)  Central African Republica, 2(2) Chile (5)  
European Union (13)  Indonesia (6)  Chada, 2 (2) Colombia (5)  
Finland1 Japan (13)  Congo, Dem. Rep. of thea (2)  Costa Rica (4)  
Georgia (2)  Korea, Rep. of (7)  Congo, Rep. of 2 (2) Dominica2 (3) 
Hungary1 (2) Kyrgyz Republic (2)  Côte d'Ivoire (3)  Dominican Republic (4)  
Iceland (5)  Macao, China (4)  Djiboutia, 2 (2) Ecuador (2)  
Israel (5 ) Malaysia (7 ) Egypt (4 ) El Salvador (4)  
Jordan (2) Maldives (3)  Gabon2 (3) Guatemala (3) 
Kuwait, the State of  (1) Mongolia (2)  The Gambiaa (3) Grenada2 (3) 
Liechtenstein2 (5) Myanmara (1) Ghana (4)  Guyana (3)  
Moldova, Rep. of  (1) Nepala (2) Guinea, Republic ofa (4) Haitia (2) 
Montenegro (1)  New Zealand (5)  Guinea -Bissaua (2) Honduras (3)  
Norway (7 ) Pakistan (4)  Kenya2 (4) Jamaica (4)  
Oman2 (2) Papua New Guinea (2)  Lesothoa, 2 (4) Mexico (6)  
Poland1 (2) Philippines (5 ) Madagascara (3) Nicaragua (3)  
Qatar2 (2) Singapore (7) Malawia (3) Panama (2) 
Romania1 (3) Solomon Islandsa (3) Malia, 2 (4) Paraguay (4)  
Russian Federation (1)  Sri Lanka (4)  Mauritaniaa (3) Peru (4)  
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of (2) Chinese  Taipei (4 ) Mauritius2 (4) St. Kitts and Nevis2 (3) 
Slovak Republic1 (2) Thailand (7)  Morocco (5)  St. Lucia2 (3) 
Slovenia1 Tonga (1)  Mozambiquea (3) St. Vincent & Grenadines2 (3) 
Sweden1 (2) Vanuatua (1) Namibia2 (4) Suriname (2)  
Switzerland2 (7) Viet Nam (1)  Nigera, 2 (3) Trinidad and Tobago (3)  
The FYR of Macedonia (1)   Nigeria (5)  United States of America (14 ) 
Turkey (6)   Rwandaa (2) Uruguay (5 ) 
Ukraine (1)   Senegala, 2 (4) Venezuela, Bolivarian Rep. of (2)  
United Arab Emirates (3)   Sierra Leonea (2)   
  South Africa2 (5)  
  Swaziland2 (4)  
  Tanzaniaa, 2 (3)  
  Togoa (4)  
  Tunisia (3)   
  Ugandaa, 2 (4)  
  Zambiaa (4)  
  Zimbabwe (2)   
    
50 Members ( 92 reviews)  30 Members ( 131 reviews)  42 Members ( 129 reviews)  33 Members (13 3 reviews)  
The parentheses indicate t he number of reviews completed . 
a Least -developed Member.  
1 Now included in European Union (EU -28). 
2 Joint review , but counted as individual Members for statistical purposes from 2009.  
Reviews conducted at end -2018  = 485 reviews at 377 TPRB meetings . 
WTO Members reviewed   = 155 out of 164 .  
Least-developed WTO Me mbers reviewed  = 32 out of 36 . 
 
 WT/TPR/W/ 155 
 
- 4 - 
 
  ANNEX II  
Trade policy reviews conducte d in 2018  
Member  Meeting date  Review cycle (years)  
The Gambiaa,b (3) 23 and 25 January  6 
Malaysia (7)  14 and 16 February  4 
Egypt (4)  20 and 22 February  6 
Philippinesa (5) 26 and 28 March  6 
Montenegro (1)  11 and 13 April  6 
Guineab (4) and Mauritaniab (3) 29 and 31 May  6 
Colombiaa (5) 12 and 14 June  6 
Norwaya (7) 18 and 20 June  6 
Uruguay (5)  27 and 29  June 6 
China (7)  11 and 13 July  2 
Israel (5)  17 and 19 July  6 
Chinese Taipeia (4) 12 and 14 September  4 
Vanuatua,b (1) 23 and 25 October  6 
Armeniaa (2) 20 and 22 November  6 
Hong Kong, Chinaa (8) 26 and 28 November  4 
Nepala,b (2) 3 and 5 December  6 
United States of America (14)  17 and 19 December  2 
Note:  Figures in parentheses indicate the total number of reviews that will have been conducted by the 
end of 201 8. 
a Alternative timeline.  
b Least -developed country.  WT/TPR/W/ 155 
 
- 5 - 
 
  ANNEX III 
Programme of reviews for 2019  
Member  Meeting dates 
(scheduled)  New review cycle 
(years)  
Ecuadora 5 and 7 March  7 
East African Community (EAC) – Burundib, 
Kenya, Rwandab, Tanzaniab, and Ugandab 20 and 22 March  7 
Bangladesha,b 3 and 5 April  7 
Samoaa 10 and 12 April  7 
Papua New Guinea  8 and 10 May  7 
Trinidad and Tobagoa 22 and 24 May  7 
Canadaa 12 and 14 June  5 
Suriname  3 and 5 July  7 
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia  15 and 17 July  7 
Costa Ricaa 18 and 20 September  7 
Perua 9 and 11 October  7 
Lao People's Democratic Republicb 18 and 20 November  7 
Nicaragua  26 and 28 November  7 
a Alternative timeline.  
b Least -developed country.  
Note:  According to the Amendment of Annex 3, approved by Members in 2017, the new cycle of reviews 
will be applied as of 2019.  WT/TPR/W/ 155 
 
- 6 - 
 
  ANNEX IV  
Members to be reviewed in 20 20 
(Due date in parentheses)  
Member  
Argentina  
Australia  
Cameroon (CEMAC)  
Central African Republica (CEMAC)  
Chada (CEMAC)  
Congo, Republic of (CEMAC)  
Cuba (2001)  
European Union  
Gabon (CEMAC)  
India 
Indonesia  
Japan  
Kuwait, the State of (2018)  
Kyrgyz Republic  
Macao , China  
Tajikistan  
Thailand  
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of (2008)  
Viet Nam  
Zimbabwe (2017)  
a Least -developed country.  
 
__________