TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM
Report of the Trade Policy Review Body for 2015
Chairperson: H.E. Ambassador Atanas Atanassov PAPARIZOV (Bulgaria)
1.
This Report by the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) provides a brief
assessment of its activities in 2015. The annexed tables provide information on
Members that are to be reviewed up to the end of 2015, the geographical
coverage of the reviews conducted to date, the proposed programme of reviews
for 2016, and candidates for review in 2017.
Activities of the TPRB
2. According to Annex 3 of the
Marrakesh Agreement, the trade policies and practices of all WTO Members are
periodically reviewed by the TPRB. By the end of 2015,
the TPRB will have conducted 429 reviews since its inception in 1989 (up from 405
in 2014), at 322 review meetings (Annex I). The reviews have covered 151 out of
161 Members.[1]
The trade policies and practices of two Members were reviewed for the first
time in 2015.[2]
The TPRB will have conducted reviews of 24 Members (counting the EU as one) in 2015
(Annex II). The Secretariat continues to group the
reviews of several Members into one TPRB meeting where Members agree to be
grouped and such a grouping is justified. Thus, in 2015, a joint review of SACU Members (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and
Swaziland) took place.
3. The review process, from the
preparatory stage to the meeting, has run relatively smoothly in 2015. The
Secretariat's reports continue to be prepared in close consultation with the
authorities of the Member under review. Responses to requests for data, documentation
and information have generally been provided within the suggested deadlines. In
preparing its reports, the Secretariat has continued its efforts to reduce the
burden on the Members under review by using, to the extent possible, other sources
of documentation, including Members' official web-sites
or other authentic web-sites. This has not been possible for all Members under
review, and requests for documentation continue to be followed up with a
questionnaire when sufficient information is not available from alternative
sources. The comments by
the authorities on the draft reports and visits to capitals by teams from the
Secretariat remain essential to the TPR process.
4. Efforts continue to be made to
space meetings of the TPRB as evenly as possible throughout the year and to
avoid clashes with other meetings at the WTO so as to reduce pressure on
Members. However, while a success for the multilateral trading system, the
increasing number of WTO Members is also adding to the burden on chairpersons,
delegations and the Secretariat through the increasing number of reviews
necessary to comply with paragraph C (ii) of Annex 3 of the Marrakesh
Agreement.
5. Changes introduced following the Fourth
Appraisal of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) continue to work
satisfactorily.[3]
In 2015, nine Members volunteered to use the
alternative timelines (compared to four Members in 2014). The seven-minute rule
for the interventions continued to be applied with very rare exceptions, contributing
to making the meetings more efficient and focused. So far in 2015, digital
audio files (podcasting) have been used at all TPR meetings.
6. The TPR programme for 2016 comprises
24 review meetings covering 24 Members (Annex III). It includes the
postponed review of Sierra Leone. Annex IV provides the list of Members that
can be considered as candidates for review in 2017.
Coverage of LDCs and follow-up to TPRB meetings
7. Trade policy reviews of LDCs have
helped them enhance their understanding of the WTO Agreements, and enabling
better compliance with and integration into the multilateral trading system. Of
the 34 least-developed Members of the WTO, 31 will have been reviewed by the
end of 2015.[4]
8. When requested by the Member concerned, the Secretariat organizes
follow-up workshops to discuss the outcome of its Trade Policy Review with
domestic stakeholders.
So far in 2015, one follow-up workshop has been
conducted for Myanmar. Other
follow-up workshops are expected in 2015 for: the
Dominican Republic; Madagascar; Pakistan; and jointly for six WTO Members of
the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica,
Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines).
In the case of Myanmar, the workshop has, inter alia,
provided the opportunity to identify priority areas for reforms requiring technical
cooperation and capacity-building assistance, and to synchronize these
priorities with the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) work and donor
programming. Several donors made pledges during the workshop to provide specific
assistance in some of these identified areas. Myanmar's experience with the
follow-up workshop has clearly illustrated the additional benefits of the TPR
process for LDCs.
Monitoring of trade and trade-related
measures
9.
The TPRM requires Members, in between their reviews, to provide
information on significant trade policy changes. The WTO Secretariat uses this
and other information to prepare, on a regular basis, reports on the trade and
trade-related developments of Members and Observer Governments. The information
is consolidated and presented in the Director‑General's Annual Report on
Developments in the International Trading Environment, as called for by
paragraph G of Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement. The WTO Secretariat continues
to receive good cooperation from Members in collecting this information.
10.
The latest trade
monitoring report covered measures taken over the period from mid‑October 2014
to mid‑May 2015.[5] The report provided information on the trends in the number of
trade-restrictive
measures as well as those facilitating trade. The report noted that Members overall continue to refrain from introducing
new trade-restrictive measures. The total stock of measures nevertheless
continues to rise due to the slow pace of removal of previous restrictions. The
report underscored the need for continued vigilance from WTO Members in monitoring
the evolution of trade restrictions. On an encouraging note, the report noted
that Members continued to adopt trade-liberalizing measures at a faster pace than
trade-restrictive measures.
11. The Director‑General's 2015 Annual
Report on Developments in the International Trading Environment will be
discussed by the TPRB in December 2015.
Annex I
TRADE POLICY REVIEWS
WTO
Members reviewed, 1989-2015
Europe/Middle East
|
Asia/Pacific
|
Africa
|
America
|
Albania
|
Australia (7)
|
Angolab (2)
|
Argentina (4)
|
Armenia
|
Bangladeshb (4)
|
Beninb, 2 (3)
|
Antigua and Barbuda2 (3)
|
Austria1
|
Brunei Darussalam (3)
|
Botswana2 (4)
|
Barbados (3)
|
Bahrain, Kingdom of2 (3)
|
Cambodiab
|
Burkina Fasob, 2 (3)
|
Belize (2)
|
Bulgaria1
|
China (5)
|
Burundib, 2 (2)
|
Bolivia, Plurinational State of (3)
|
Croatia1
|
Fiji (2)
|
Cabo Verdea
|
Brazil (6)
|
Cyprus1
|
Georgia
|
Cameroon2 (4)
|
Canada (10)
|
Czech Republic1 (2)
|
Hong Kong, China (7)
|
Central African Republicb, 2(2)
|
Chile (5)
|
European Union (12)
|
India (6)
|
Chadb, 2 (2)
|
Colombia (4)
|
Finland1
|
Indonesia (6)
|
Congo, Dem. Rep. of theb
|
Costa Rica (4)
|
Hungary1 (2)
|
Japan (12)
|
Congo, Rep. of 2 (2)
|
Dominica2 (3)
|
Iceland (4)
|
Korea, Rep. of (6)
|
Côte d'Ivoire (2)
|
Dominican Republic (4)
|
Israel (4)
|
Kyrgyz Republic (2)
|
Djiboutib, 2 (2)
|
Ecuador (2)
|
Jordan (2)_
|
Macao, China (4)
|
Egypt (3)
|
El Salvador (3)
|
Kuwait, the State of
|
Malaysia (6)
|
Gabon2 (3)
|
Guatemala (2)
|
Liechtenstein2 (4)
|
Maldives (2)
|
The Gambiab (2)
|
Grenada2 (3)
|
Moldova, Rep. ofa
|
Mongolia (2)
|
Ghana (4)
|
Guyana (3)
|
Norway (6)
|
Myanmarb
|
Guinea, Republic ofb (3)
|
Haitib (2)
|
Oman2 (2)
|
Nepalb
|
Guinea-Bissaub
|
Honduras (2)
|
Poland1 (2)
|
New Zealand (5)
|
Kenya2 (4)
|
Jamaica (3)
|
Qatar2 (2)
|
Pakistan (4)
|
Lesothob, 2 (4)
|
Mexico (5)
|
Romania1 (3)_
|
Papua New Guinea (2)_
|
Madagascarb (3)
|
Nicaragua (3)
|
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom
of
|
Philippines (4)
|
Malawib (2)
|
Panama (2)
|
Slovak Republic1
(2)
|
Singapore (6)
|
Malib, 2 (3)
|
Paraguay (3)
|
Slovenia1
|
Solomon Islandsb (2)
|
Mauritaniab (2)
|
Peru (4)
|
Sweden1 (2)
|
Sri Lanka (3)
|
Mauritius2 (4)
|
St. Kitts and Nevis2 (3)
|
Switzerland2 (6)
|
Chinese Taipei (3)
|
Morocco (4)
|
St. Lucia2 (3)
|
The FYR of Macedonia
|
Thailand (7)
|
Mozambiqueb (2)
|
St. Vincent & Grenadines2 (3)
|
Turkey (5)
|
Tonga
|
Namibia2 (4)
|
Suriname (2)
|
United Arab Emirates (2)
|
Viet Nam
|
Nigerb, 2 (2)
|
Trinidad and Tobago (3)
|
|
|
Nigeria (4)
|
United States of America (12)
|
|
|
Rwandab (2)
|
Uruguay (4)
|
|
|
Senegalb, 2 (3)
|
Venezuela, Bolivarian Rep. of (2)
|
|
|
Sierra Leoneb
|
|
|
|
South Africa2 (5)
|
|
|
|
Swaziland2 (4)
|
|
|
|
Tanzaniab, 2 (3)
|
|
|
|
Togob (3)
|
|
|
|
Tunisia (2)
|
|
|
|
Ugandab, 2 (4)
|
|
|
|
Zambiab (3)
|
|
|
|
Zimbabwe (2)
|
|
46 Members (77 reviews)
|
30 Members (116 reviews)
|
42 Members (116 reviews)
|
33 Members (120 reviews)
|
The parentheses indicate the number of reviews completed (where this is
greater than one).
a First
review in 2015.
b Least-developed
Member.
1 Now included in
European Union (EU-28).
2 Joint review but
counted as individual Members for statistical purposes from 2009.
Reviews conducted at end-2015 = 429 reviews at 322 TPRB meetings
WTO Members reviewed = 151 out of 161 Members
Least-developed WTO Members reviewed = 31 out of 34
Annex II
Trade policy
reviews conducted in 2015
Member
|
Meeting date
|
Review cycle (years)
|
Barbados (3)
|
27 and 29 January
|
6
|
Brunei Darussalama (3)
|
10 and 12 February
|
6
|
Japana (12)
|
9 and 11 March
|
2
|
Pakistan (4)
|
24 and 26 March
|
6
|
Australiaa (7)
|
21 and 23 April
|
4
|
India (6)
|
2 and 4 June
|
4
|
Canadaa (10)
|
15 and 17 June
|
4
|
Chilea (5)
|
23 and 25 June
|
6
|
New Zealanda (5)
|
29 June and 1 July
|
6
|
European Uniona (12)
|
6 and 8 July
|
2
|
Madagascarb (3)
|
14 and 16 July
|
6
|
Dominican Republica (4)
|
28 and 30 July
|
6
|
Guyanaa (3)
|
15 and 17 September
|
6
|
Angolab (2)
|
22 and 24 September
|
6
|
Cabo Verde (1)
|
6 and 8 October
|
6
|
Moldova, Rep. of (1)
|
19 and 21 October
|
6
|
SACU:
Botswana (4), Lesothob (4), Namibia (4), South Africa (5),
and Swaziland (4)
|
4 and 6 November
|
6
|
Jordan (2)
|
17 and 19 November
|
6
|
Thailand (7)
|
24 and 26 November
|
4
|
Haitib (2)
|
2 and 4 December
|
6
|
Note: Figures in brackets indicate the total number
of reviews that will have been conducted by the end of 2015.
a Alternative timeline.
b Least-developed country.
Annex III
Proposed
programme of reviews for 2016
Member
|
Meeting dates (scheduled)
|
Georgia
|
19 and 21 January
|
Morocco
|
2 and 4 February
|
Fiji
|
23 and 25 February
|
Turkey
|
15 and 17 March
|
Maldives
|
21 and 23 March
|
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of
|
4 and 6 April
|
Ukraine
|
19 and 21 April
|
Malawia
|
27 and 29 April
|
Honduras
|
2 and 4 May
|
Albania
|
11 and 13 May
|
United Arab Emirates
|
1 and 3 June
|
Democratic Rep. of the Congoa
|
15 and 17 June
|
Zambiaa
|
21 and 23 June
|
China
|
5 and 7 July
|
Tunisia
|
13 and 15 July
|
Singaporeb
|
26 and 28 July
|
El Salvador
|
14 and 16 September
|
Russian Federation
|
28 and 30 September
|
Rep. of Korea
|
11 and 13 October
|
Sierra Leonea
|
19 and 21 October
|
Sri Lanka
|
1 and 3 November
|
Guatemalab
|
16 and 18 November
|
Solomon Islandsa
|
13 and 15 December
|
United States of America
|
19 and 21 December
|
a Least-developed country.
b Alternative timeline.
ANNEX IV
Candidates for TPRB Reviews in 2017
(Due date in parentheses)
Member
|
|
Armenia (2016)
|
Jamaica (2017)
|
Belize (2016)
|
Japan (2017)
|
Benina (UEMOA) (2016)
|
Malia (UEMOA) (2016)
|
Bolivia, Plurinational State of (2011)
|
Mauritaniaa (2016)
|
Brazil (2017)
|
Mexico (2017)
|
Burkina Fasoa (UEMOA)
(2016)
|
Mozambiquea
(2015)
|
Cambodiaa (2017)
|
Nigera (UEMOA) (2015)
|
Cote d'Ivoire (UEMOA) (2018)
|
Nigeria (2017)
|
Cuba (2001)
|
Papua New Guinea (2016)
|
Ecuador (2017)
|
Paraguay (2017)
|
Egypt (2011)
|
Senegala
(UEMOA) (2015)
|
EU (2017)
|
Switzerland and Liechtenstein (2017)
|
The Gambiaa (2016)
|
Togoa (UEMOA) (2018)
|
Guinea-Bissaua (UEMOA)
(2018)
|
Venezuela,
Bolivarian Rep. of (2008)
|
Guinea,
Rep. ofa (2016)
|
Zimbabwe
(2016)
|
a Least-developed country.
__________
[1] Members not yet reviewed by end-2015
are: Cuba; Lao People's Dem. Rep.; Montenegro; Russian Federation; Samoa; Seychelles;
Tajikistan; Ukraine; Vanuatu; and Yemen.
[2] Cabo Verde and Republic of
Moldova.
[3] These included: the introduction on a voluntary basis of an
alternative timeline for the submission of questions and responses; a
seven-minute rule for statements during the first day of a TPRB meeting; and
the podcasting of TPRB meetings on a pilot-basis. With regards to the seven-minute rule for statements, while deviations
have been rare, some Members noted during the Fifth Appraisal that flexibility
may be required in the application of the seven-minute time limit in the
case of group reviews so as to allow deeper consideration of each member of the
group.
[4] First reviews are due for Vanuatu
in 2018, for Lao People's Democratic Republic in 2019, and for Yemen in 2020.
[5] An
informal meeting of the TPRB was held on 23 July 2015 to discuss the trade
monitoring report contained in document WT/TPR/OV/W/9.