WT/TPR/483  
21 September  2022 
(22-7077) Page: 1/2 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
  
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON  
OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY  
DJIBOUTI  
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 12 and 1 4 October  2022 to conduct the  third review of 
the trade policies and practices of Djibouti  (WTO/AIR/ TPR/131). 
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. 4). 
1  QUESTIONS IN W RITING IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING AND MAIN POINTS  
3.  Members wishing to submit written questions to the Member under review should do 
so normally 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, such questions should 
therefore be with the Trade  Policies Review Division of the Secretariat ( tprd@wto.org ) by 5.30 p.m., 
Wednesday  28 September  2022, at the latest. Delegations are informed that Djibouti  has opted 
for the traditional way of handling questions and answe rs. 
4.  In line with the rules of procedure of the TPRB (WT/TPR/6/Rev.4, paragraph 17), Members are 
reminded that , so as to facilitate responses , they should group their written questions into the 
following three  categories: those related to the Secretariat report (with a reference to the paragraph 
numbers  concerned ); those concerning the Government report (with a reference to the paragraph 
numbers  concerned ); and other questions.  
5.  The Secretariat shall identify the main points contained in the questions submitted at least  
two 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 two-week deadline give rise to si gnifican tly 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  
6.  Answers by the Member under review sho uld be distributed in writing; advance questions 
submitted by the two-week deadline before the start of the TPRB review should be answered in 
writing by the Member under revi ew by the start of the meeting.  Questions posed subsequently 
should be answered, t o 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 writing no later 
than one month after the meeting with some latitude in the Chair's discretion fo r Members reviewing 
a very large number of questions . WT/TPR/483  
- 2 - 
  7.  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, th e Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all Members.  
3  DISCUSSANT  
8.  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 introduc e the discussions in 
the Body. H.E. Dr Adamu Mohammed ABDULHAMID (Nigeria) will act as discussant  for the review 
of Djibouti . 
4  STRUCTURE OF THE MEETING  
9.  Trade policy reviews cover four broad headings:  
a. appreciation of the full range of the Member's tr ade 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 syst em; and 
d. general comments by way of assessment and evaluation.  
10.  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, whe n the Member under review will reply to questions, is  based 
on main themes identified after the opening meeting by the Chairperson, the discussant and the 
Secretariat in consultation with the Member.  
11.  As indicated in the rules of procedure for TPRB meetings  (WT/TPR/6/Rev.4, paragraph 21), t he 
speakers ' list will follow the order in which questions are rec eived 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.  On the day before each review meeting, the Secretariat will post on the WTO Members' 
website a provisional list of speakers for the first session of that meeting , for Members' advance 
information . 
5  DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS  
12.  Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents:  
WT/TPR/G/ 430 Report by Djibouti  
WT/TPR/S/ 430 Djibouti : Report by the Secretariat  
13.  The press embargo for the review of  Djibouti  will end at 2.00 p.m. Geneva time 
on 12 October  2022. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETING  
14.  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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