WTO Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM)
The Trade Policy Review Mechanism is a WTO surveillance instrument that periodically examines member countries' trade policies and practices for transparency. It originated in 1989 under GATT following the Uruguay Round's Mid-Term Review, and was formally institutionalised as Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO in 1994/1995. Its purpose is to improve adherence to WTO rules through peer scrutiny rather than binding sanctions — a review does not itself impose obligations but generates a Secretariat report and a government report, discussed by the Trade Policy Review Body.
- Review frequency is tied to a member's share of world trade: since 2016 reforms, the four largest traders (EU, US, China, Japan) are reviewed every 3 years, the next 16 largest every 5 years, and other members every 7 years.
- India's 8th TPR covers January 2021 to December 2025 and was conducted in July 2026, based on both a government policy statement and an independent WTO Secretariat report.
- The mechanism has no enforcement power — it is a transparency and peer-review tool, distinct from the binding WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism.
● Tracked since July 21, 2026 · last seen July 24, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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