The Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) is a subsidiary body of the General Council created by the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO to administer the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM). The TPRM offers a forum for Members to shed light on the trade policies of the country under review from a multilateral perspective.
All WTO members undergo review. The purpose of the review process is to strengthen Members' observance of WTO provisions and to contribute to the smoother functioning of the multilateral trading system. Moreover, the review mechanism serves as a valuable resource for improving the transparency of Members' trade and investment regimes.
In a review, the WTO Secretariat produces an independent report on the trade policies and practices of the Member under review. The Member also prepares its own report. In a TPRB session, the WTO Membership discusses these reports. The Member under review answers questions about its trade policies and practices. Reports are available to the public on the WTO's website, under the document symbol "WT/TPR."
In June 2008, the latest trade policy review of the United States took place. From its inception in 1998 to the end of 2009, the TPRM will have conducted 305 reviews, covering 136 out of 153 Members and representing some 97 percent of world trade.
| Member Name | Review Dates |
|---|---|
| Malaysia | 18 and 20 January |
| El Salvador | 10 and 12 February |
| Croatia | 24 and 26 March |
| Armenia | 6 and 8 April |
| Albania | 28 and 30 April |
| China | 10 and 12 May |
| Malawi | 1 and 3 June |
| Honduras | 21 and 23 June |
| Chinese Taipei | 5 and 7 July |
| The Gambia | 26 and 28 July |
| United States | 29 September and 1 October |
| Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali | 4 and 6 October |
| Sri Lanka | 11 and 13 October |
| Belize | 3 and 5 November |
| Papua New Guinea | 16 and 18 November |
| Congo, Dem. Rep. | 24 and 26 November |
| Hong Kong, China | 1 and 3 December |
