. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/TPR/266 
3 November 2010 
 
 (10-5802) 
Trade Policy Review Body  
  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM 
 
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 
 
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 24  and 26 November 2010 to conduct the first review 
of the trade policies and practices of the De mocratic Republic of the Congo (WTO/AIR/3642). 
2. This communication sets out arrangements c oncerning the review meeting.  In this 
connection, attention is also draw n to the procedures for the conduct of reviews contained in the Rules 
of Procedure for Meetings of the Trad e Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev.2). 
I. QUESTIONS IN WRITING IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING AND MAIN POINTS 
3. Members wishing to submit written questions to the Member under review should do so at 
least two weeks before the review meeting to allow re plies 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 5.30 p.m., Wednesday 10 November 2010, at the latest.  All questions su bmitted will be made available to Members at the 
beginning of the meeting. 
4. 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 significantly new issues.  The main points 
may be found on the Members' Website under "WTO Resources". 
II. ANSWERS IN WRITING BY THE MEMBER UNDER REVIEW 
5. Answers by the Member under review should be  distributed in writing;  advance questions 
submitted by the two-week deadline before the star t of the TPRB review should be answered in 
writing by the Member under review by the start of  the meeting.  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 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. 
6. In the course of the discussions at the review meeting, the Member under review may indicate 
that they intend to provide supplementary inform ation, in writing, on specific points raised.  Upon 
receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all Members. WT/TPR/266 
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  III. DISCUSSANT 
7. In consultation with the Member under review, the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review 
Body may choose a discussant who, in his or her personal capacity, will introduce the discussions in 
the Body.  H.E. Mr Jean FEYDER (Luxembourg) will act as discussant for the review of the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo. 
IV. STRUCTURE OF THE MEETING 
8. Trade policy reviews cover four broad headings: 
(a) Appreciation of the full range of the Members' trade policies and practices; 
(b) relevant background:  wider economic a nd developmental needs, including the 
external environment; 
(c) impact of the Members' trade policies and practices on the functioning of the 
multilateral trading system;  and 
(d) general comments by way of assessment and evaluation. 
9. Meetings take place in two sessions.  The first s ession is devoted to the opening statements by 
the Member under review and the discussant, an d remarks and questions from the floor.  The 
discussion in the second session, when the Member u nder 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 Member. 
V. DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS 
10. Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents: 
WT/TPR/G/240 Report by the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
WT/TPR/S/240 Democratic Republic of the Congo:  Report by the Secretariat WT/TPR/W/42 Draft Report of the Trade Policy Review Body for 2010 
 11. The press embargo for the review of the Democr atic Republic of the Congo will end at 2 p.m. 
Geneva time on 24 November 2010. 
VI. RECORD OF THE MEETING 
12. 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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