Improving Trade Policy Reviews in the World Trade Organization

The Trade Policy Review Mechanism is part of the World Trade Organization. Its purpose is to strengthen observance of WTO commitments and promote trade liberalization by providing all member countries with objective information about the trade policies and practices of each member individually and by establishing a forum within which members can question one another's policies and practices in a nonconfrontational manner. Since the TPRM was established in 1989 as one of the first fruits of the Uraguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, some 80 trade policy reviews have been completed, covering nearly 60 countries. In light of eight years of experience with the process, it is fair to ask whether the TPRM is meeting the goals set for it at its inception. Are the reviews sufficiently probing and analytical to provide information of real value? Do they cover all relevant aspects of members' trade? Are they unbiased and objective? Does the WTO devote sufficient resources to the task of conducting the reviews - and to disseminating the information that they generate? Is the potential value of this information to those outside the trade negotiations process being realized? This text seeks to answer these questions and others.

Donald B. Keesing was a Visiting Fellow from 1996-97, and spent 20 years at the World Bank.