. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/TPR/289 
15 February 2012  
 
 (12-0872) 
Trade Policy Review Body  
  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM 
 
THE PHILIPPINES  
 
Arrangements for Review Meeting 
 
Communication from the Chairperson of  the Trade Policy Review Body 
 
 
1. In pursuance of Article IV, paragraph 4 and A nnex 3 of the WTO Agreement, a meeting of 
the Trade Policy Review Body is scheduled for 20 and 22 March 2012 to conduct the fourth review of 
the trade policies and practices of the Philippines (WTO/AIR/3880). 
2. This communication sets out arrangements c oncerning the review meeting.  In this 
connection, attention is also drawn to the pro cedures for the conduct of reviews contained in the 
revised rules of procedure of the Trad e Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev.3). 
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 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 Policies Review Division of the Secretariat (tprd@wto.org) by 5.30 p.m., Tuesday, 21 February 2012, at the latest.  All ques tions submitted will be made available to Members 
one week prior to the meeting. 
4. 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 points during the first session of a review when 
questions received after the four-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 four-week deadline before the star t of the TPRB review should be answered in 
writing by the Member under review one week prior to the start of the meeting, 13 March 2012.  Written answers will be made available on the Member s' Website four days prior to the meeting.  
Questions posed subsequently should  be answered, to the extent po ssible, before the start of the 
second session of the meeting.  Questions left una nswered at the end of the second session should be 
answered in writing no later than one month afte r the meeting with some latitude in the Chair's 
discretion for Members reviewing a very large number of questions. WT/TPR/289 
Page 2  
 
  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. 
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.  The choice of the discussant will be confirmed as soon as possible. 
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. 
10. The speakers list will follow the order in which que stions are received by the Secretariat with 
precedence given to Ambassadors present and asking for the floor. 
V. DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS 
11. Reports by the Member under review and the Secretariat are contained in the following 
documents: 
WT/TPR/G/261   Report by the Philippines 
WT/TPR/S/261   The Philippines:  Report by the Secretariat 
12. The press embargo for the review of the Phili ppines will end at 2.00 p.m. Geneva time on 
20 March 2012. 
VI. RECORD OF THE MEETING 
13. 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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