WT/TPR/376  
 
21 June 2016  
(16-3348)  Page: 1/2  
Trade Policy Review Body    
 
 TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY 
SINGAPORE  
Arrangements for Review Meeting 
1. In pursuance of Article IV, paragraph 4 and A nnex 3 of the WTO Agreement, a meeting of the 
Trade Policy Review Body is scheduled for 26 and 28 July 2016 to conduct the seventh review of 
the trade policies and practices of Singapore (WTO/AIR/TPR/34). 
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). 
3. Members' attention is drawn to Singapore' s use of the "alternative" time-frame for 
submission of written questions and responses (see below). 
1  QUESTIONS IN WRITING IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING AND MAIN POINTS 
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 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  Division of the Secretariat (tprd@wto.org) by 
5.30 p.m., Tuesday 28 June 2016, at the latest. 
5. In line with the results of the 4
th 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 Secretariat report (with a 
reference to relevant paragraph numbers); thos e 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 po ints during the first session of a review when 
questions received after the four-week deadline gi ve rise to significantly new issues. The main 
points may be found on the Members' Website under "Forthcoming Meetings: Documents for Meetings". 
2  ANSWERS IN WRITING 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 writing by the Member under re view one week prior to the start of the 
meeting (19 July 2016). Written answers w ill be made available on the Members' 
Website four working days prior to the meeting (20 July 2016).  Questions posed 
subsequently should be answered, to the extent po ssible, 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/376 
 
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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 revi ew 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. Fernando De Mateo (Mexico) will  act as discussant for the review of Singapore.  
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 opening m eeting by the Chairperson, the discussant and the 
Secretariat in consultation with the Member. 
12. The speakers list will follow the order in whic h questions are received by the Secretariat and 
in the event of more than one batch, the fina l 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 PRESS ARRANGEMENTS 
13. Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents: 
WT/TPR/G/343  Report by Singapore 
      
WT/TPR/S/343  Singapore: Report by the Secretariat 
14. The press embargo for the review of Singapore will end at 2.00 p.m. Geneva time on 
26 July 2016. 
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. 
16. On a pilot basis, a podcast of the proceedings in all three working languages will be made 
available on the Members' Website at the end of each half-day's session. 
 
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