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
24 Jul '26
India Defends Tariff and Quality-Control Regime at WTO's Eighth Trade Policy Review
Economics
23 Jul '26
WTO Trade Policy Review Questions India's PLI, QCO and Import-Substitution Measures
Economics
International Relations
WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement)
International Relations
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme
International Relations
WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism
Economy
Minimum Support Price (MSP) Mechanism
International Relations
Free Trade Agreements
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