. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/TPR/238  
17 March 2009 
 (09-1308) 
Trade Policy Review Body  
  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM 
 
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
 
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 6 and 8 April 2009 to conduct the ninth review of the 
trade policies and practices of the European Communities (WTO/AIR/3324). 
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.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 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 5.30 pm, Monday 23 March 2009, at the latest.  All questions submitted 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 it intends to provide supplementary informa tion, in writing, on specific points raised.  Upon 
receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all Members. WT/TPR/238 
Page 2  
 
III. DISCUSSANT 
7. In consultation with the Member 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.  H.E. Mr. Peter Grey (Australia) will act  as discussant for the review of the European 
Communities. 
IV. STRUCTURE OF THE MEETING 
8. 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 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. 
9. Meetings take place in two sessions.  The first session 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 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 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/214   Report by the European Communities 
WT/TPR/S/214   European Communities:  Report by the Secretariat 
11. The press embargo for the review of the Eur opean Communities will end at 2.00 p.m. Geneva 
time on 6 April 2009. 
VI. MINUTES 
12. Minutes of the meeting will be circulated prom ptly and will be publishe d together with the 
reports by the European Communities and the Secretariat. 
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