WTO Members Agree to Set of Changes to Trade Policy Review Body
World Trade Organization members delivered "the first potential outcome on WTO reform" to be presented at the 13th Ministerial Conference by agreeing to a set of measures to boost the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) "as a transparency tool," while making Trade Policy Reviews (TPRs) more efficient, the WTO said. Coming up with the measures during a July 26 meeting on the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM), the members focused on implementing an improved information technology system to better facilitate the questions and answers process during TPRs.
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"The enhancement will significantly strengthen the TPRM as the cornerstone of transparency on members' trade policies and practices, while reducing members' workload to prepare for and participate in TPRs," the WTO said. Members agreed to a "set of milestones" to make sure the IT system is "fully operational at the earliest possible date." A member-led task force was also established to work with the WTO secretariat on the IT system and to provide support to nations facing "capacity challenges."
Members also made a series of requests to the secretariat to improve the TRP process, including recommendations to prepare more concise reports centered on recent policy changes and on outstanding issues from previous TPRs. Related to trade monitoring, members agreed that the TPRB should "play a greater role as a forum to share information on trade policies and practices," the WTO said. Members also agreed to conduct the next TPRM "appraisal" no later than 2027.