TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM

Report of the Trade Policy Review Body for 2023

Chairperson: H.E. Saqer Abdullah ALMOQBEL (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

1._       This Report by the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) provides a brief assessment of its activities in 2023. The annexed tables provide information on Members reviewed up to the end of 2023, the programme of reviews for 2024, and candidates for review in 2025.

Seventh Appraisal of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM)

2._       On 26 July 2023, the TPRB formally endorsed the Chair's Report on the Seventh Appraisal[1] and decided unanimously to submit it to MC13 for consideration. Members recognized the TPRM as a core function of the WTO, and discussed six main aspects: review cycles, TPR reports, Q&A process, meeting structure, follow-up activities, and the Trade Monitoring exercise. Discussions were structured around the need to reduce the burden of the TPR exercise on Members and the Secretariat while retaining the value of TPRs.

3._       As part of the appraisal package, Members agreed to maintain the current review cycles (3, 5, and 7 years) with flexibility and preparatory assistance accorded to least-developed countries (LDCs). They made recommendations on strengthening the Secretariat report and reiterated their trust in the Secretariat's professional judgment in preparing its report. Members defined a timeline for making fully operational an improved IT system to facilitate the TPR Q&A process and enable its uniform use by all Members at the earliest possible date. They agreed to exercise restraint in posing advance written questions to make the Q&A process more manageable, particularly for the largest traders. Members encouraged the Secretariat to continue offering upon request TPR follow‑up workshops, in particular for LDCs, and report on the outcome of those activities. On Trade Monitoring, Members agreed that the TPRB should play a greater role as a forum to share information on trade policies and practices, especially in times of global crises.

4._       Members decided to keep the optional nature of the alternative timeline and the current timeline in submitting advance written questions. They also decided to maintain the current meeting structure and to discuss and consider ways to reinvigorate TPR meetings at the next Appraisal.

5._       The next Appraisal of the operation of the TPRM should take place at a time to be decided by the TPRB, but not later than 2027, and preferably not in the year of a WTO Ministerial Conference.