. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/TPR/231 
24 November 2008 
 (08-5703) 
Trade Policy Review Body  
  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM 
 
SWITZERLAND AND LIECHTENSTEIN 
 
Arrangements for Review Meeting
 
 
Communication from the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body  
  
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 15 and 17 December 2008 to conduct the third joint 
review of the trade policies and practices of  Switzerland and Liechtenstein (WTO/AIR/3262). 
2. This communication sets out arrangements c oncerning the review meeting.  In this 
connection, attention is also drawn to the procedur es for the conduct of reviews contained in the rules 
of procedure of the Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev.1). 
I. QUESTIONS IN WRITING IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING 
3. Members wishing to submit written questions to the Members under review should do so at 
least two weeks before the review meeting to allow replies to be prepared in  time for the first session 
of the meeting.  For the forthcoming review, su ch questions should therefore be with the Trade 
Policies Review Division of the Secretariat (tprd@wto.org) by Monday, 1 December 2008, at the latest.  All questions submitted w ill be made available to Members at  the beginning of the meeting. 
II. ANSWERS IN WRITING BY THE MEMBER UNDER REVIEW 
4. In the course of the discussions at the re view meeting, the Members under review may 
indicate that they intend to provide supplementary in formation, in writing, on specific points raised.  
Upon receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a documen t containing this information to all Members. 
III. DISCUSSANT 
5. In consultation with the Members under review, the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review 
Body may choose discussants who, in their pers onal capacity, will introduce the discussions in the 
Body.  Mr. Faizel Ismail (South Africa) will act as discussant for the joint review of Switzerland and 
Liechtenstein.  A document summarizing the main poi nts to be raised by the discussant will be 
circulated two weeks in advance of the meeting. 
IV. STRUCTURE OF THE MEETING 
6. Trade policy reviews cover four broad headings: 
(a) appreciation of the full range of the Member's trade policies and practices; WT/TPR/231 
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  (b) relevant background:  wider economic a nd 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. 
7. Meetings take place in two sessions.  The first sessi on is devoted to the opening statement by 
the Members under review and the discussant, an d remarks and questions from the floor.  The 
discussion in the second session, when the Members unde r review will reply to questions, is based on 
main themes identified after the opening meeti ng by the Chairperson, the discussant and the 
Secretariat in consultation with the Members. 
V. DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS 
8. Reports by the Members under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents: 
WT/TPR/G/208  Reports by Switzerland and Liechtenstein 
WT/TPR/S/208  Switzerland and Liechtenstein:  Report by the Secretariat 
9. The press embargo for the joint review of  Switzerland and Liechtenstein will end at 
2:00 p.m., Geneva time, on 15 December 2008. 
VI. MINUTES 
10. Minutes of the meeting will be circulated prom ptly and will be publishe d together with the 
reports by Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and the Secretariat. 
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