WT/TPR/ 397 
31 May 2017 
(17-2899) Page: 1/2 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM T HE CHAIRPERSON OF TH E TRADE POLICY REVIE W BODY  
EUROPEAN UNION 
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 B ody is scheduled for 5 and 7 July 201 7 to conduct the thirteen th review of 
the trade policies and practices of the European Union  (WTO/AIR/ TPR/53). 
2. This communication sets out arrangements  concerning the review meeting.  In this connection, 
attention is als o 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).  
3. Members' attention is drawn to the European Union 's use of the " alternative" time -
frame for submission of written que stions and responses (see below) . 
1  QUESTIONS IN WRITING  IN ADVANCE OF THE ME ETING AND MAIN POINT S 
4. Members wishing to submit written questions to the Member under review should 
do so at least four weeks before the review meeting to allow replies to be submit ted one 
week prio r to 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., Wednes day 7 June  2017, at the latest.  
5. In line wit h 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 Secreta riat 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 questions submitted at least 
four 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 four-week deadline give rise to significantly 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  
7. Answers by the Member under review sho uld be distributed in writing; adva nce questions 
submitted by the four -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  (28 June  2017). Written answers will be made available on the Members' 
Website four working days prior to the meeting ( 29 June  2017). 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 WT/TPR/ 397 
 
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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 writi ng, 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 C hairperson 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. Mr. Roberto Zapata Barradas  (Mexico ) will act as discussant  for the review of the 
European  Union . 
4  STRUCTU RE 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 Me mber's trade policies and practices on the functioning of th e multilateral 
trading system; and 
d. general comments by way of assessment and evaluation.  
11. Meetin gs take place in two sessions. The first session is devoted to the opening statements by 
the Member u nder review and the discussant, and remark s 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 discu ssant and the 
Secretariat in consultation with the Member.  
12. 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, in the order in which 
their flags are raised.  
5  DOCUMENTATION AND PR ESS ARRANGEMENTS  
13. Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents:  
WT/TPR/G/ 357  Report by the European Union  
     
WT/TPR/S/ 357  European Union : Report by the Secretariat  
14. The press embargo for the review of the European Union  will end at 2.00 p.m. Geneva time 
on 5 July 2017. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETIN G 
15. The record of the meeting will be c irculated as a draft to Members for comments on their own 
statements and placed on the WTO website.  
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