WT/TPR/343
2 February 2015 
(15-0692)  Page: 1/2
Trade Policy Review Body  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF  THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY  
JAPAN  
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 9 and 11 March 2015 to conduct the twelfth review 
of the trade policies and practices of Japan (WTO/AIR/TPR/1).  
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 revised rules of procedure of the Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev.3). 
3. Members' attention is drawn to Japan's use of the "alternative" timeframe 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 questi ons 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 Policie s Review Division of the Secretariat ( tprd@wto.org ) 
by 5.30 p.m., Monday 9 February 2015 , at the latest.  
5. In line with 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 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 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  ANSWER IN WRITITNG 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 (2 March 2015). Written answers w ill be made available on the Members' 
Website four working days prio r to the meeting (3 March 2015) . 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/343 
 
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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 re view 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 discussants who, in their personal capacity, will introduce the discussions in the 
Body. Mr. Jean-Paul Thuillier (Permanent Representative of France to the WTO) will act as discussant for the review of Japan. 
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 which questions are received by the Secretariat 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/310  Report by Japan 
WT/TPR/S/310  Japan: Report by the Secretariat 
14. The press embargo for the review of Japan will end at 2.00 p.m. Geneva time on 
9 March 2015.  
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.  
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