″ trade policy review mechanism (tprm)″

″TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM (TPRM)″

September 2012

1. BROAD OBJECTIVE OF THE TPRM

“ACHIEVING GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN, AND UNDERSTANDING OF, THE TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF MEMBERS”.

2. ROLE OF THE TPRM (EST. 1989)

NOT A LEGAL EXERCISE.

NOT A BASIS FOR ENFORCING OBLIGATIONS UNDER WTO AGREEMENTS, OR FOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PURPOSES.

NOT TO IMPOSE NEW RULES ON MEMBERS.

3. MAIN ASPECTS OF TPR

(i) DESCRIPTION OF NATURE OF POLICIES AND MEASURES (WHAT?);

(ii) THEIR RATIONALE OR OBJECTIVES (WHY?);

(iii) ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS IN ACHIEVING OBJECTIVES (COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS);

4. BASIS FOR TPRB MEETING

TPRB MEETING BASED MAINLY ON:

SECRETARIAT REPORT (ON ITS OWN RESPONSIBILITY);

GOVERNMENT REPORT BY MEMBER UNDER REVIEW; AND

STATEMENTS MADE AND QUESTION AND ANSWER EXCHANGE WITH MEMBERS.

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY CHAIRMAN.

REPORTS AND TPRB PROCEEDINGS ARE PUBLISHED.

5. SECRETARIAT'S REPORT

SECRETARIAT REPORT SEEKS TO:

REVIEW OF MAIN TRENDS & RECENT DEVELOPMENTS;

EVALUATE TRADE & TRADE-RELATED POLICIES & MEASURES;

ANTICIPATE ISSUES THAT MIGHT BE RAISED BY MEMBERS AND CLARIFY SUCH ISSUES.

IN DOING SO, HELP PREPARE MEMBER UNDER REVIEW FOR TPRB MEETING.

GOVERNMENT REPORT MAY, INTER ALIA, SEEK FROM ITS OWN PERSPECTIVE TO:

REVIEW MAJOR TRENDS & RECENT DEVELOPMENTS;

PRESENT OWN VIEWS ON MAJOR POLICIES ANDTHEIR EVALUATION;

ANTICIPATE & CLARIFY ISSUES; AND

INDICATE FUTURE DIRECTION OF KEY TRADE &TRADE-RELATED POLICIES.

6. GOVERNMENT REPORT

7. TYPICAL SECRETARIAT REPORT

SUMMARY OBSERVATIONS

I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

II. TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIME

III. TRADE POLICIES & PRACTICES BY MEASURE

IV. TRADE POLICIES & PRACTICES BY SECTOR

8. I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

1. MAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

2. MACROECONOMIC POLICIES

3. KEY STRUCTURAL POLICIES

4. DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADE AND FDI

5. PROSPECTS/OUTLOOK

9. II. TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIME

• INSTITUTIONAL & LEGAL FRAMEWORK

• POLICY FORMULATION, IMPLEMENTATION & EVALUATION

• TRADE POLICY OBJECTIVES

• TRADE AGREEMENTS & ARRANGEMENTS

• FOREIGN INVESTMENT REGIME

10. II(2) POLICY FORMULATION, IMPLEMENTATION & EVALUATION

• MAIN TRADE LAWS & POLICIES

• AGENCIES INVOLVED IN FORMULATION

• AGENCIES INVOLVED IN IMPLEMENTATION

• AGENCIES INVOLVED IN POLICY EVALUATION

11. III. TRADE POLICIES & PRACTICESBY MEASURE

• INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW

• MEASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING IMPORTS

• MEASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING EXPORTS

• INTERNAL MEASURES

12. III(2) MEASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING IMPORTS

• CUSTOMS PROCEDURES• TARIFFS• OTHER CHARGES• CUSTOMS VALUATION• IMPORT BANS, RESTRICTIONS, LICENSING• RULES OF ORIGIN• STATE TRADING• CONTINGENCY MEASURES• TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE• SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES• GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT

13. III(3) MEASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING EXPORTS

• PROCEDURES

• EXPORT TAXES

• OTHER TAX MEASURES & CHARGES

• EXPORT BANS, RESTRICTIONS & LICENSING

• STATE TRADING

• EXPORT ASSISTANCE

• EXPORT PROMOTION

14. III(4) INTERNAL MEASURES

• INDUSTRIAL POLICY

• TAXATION & TAX MEASURES/INCENTIVES

• OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

• LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR BUSINESSES

• REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

• STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES/PRIVATIZATION

• CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

• COMPETITION POLICY

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

15. IV. TRADE POLICIES & PRACTICES BY SECTOR

1. INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW

2. AGRICULTURE

3. NON-AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

4. MANUFACTURING

5. SERVICES