Towards meaningful transparency at the WTO: Reinforcing the trade policy review mechanism¹

Abstract

We characterise the operation of the World Trade Organization's Trade Policy Review as an exercise, albeit valuable, in performative transparency. We describe steps taken by the St. Gallen Endowment for Prosperity Through Trade to augment this review process so as contribute towards meaningful transparency. Drawing from recent Trade Policy Reviews of G20 countries, specific examples are described where revealing evidence was provided that facilitates government assessment of their economies' exposure to the commercial policy practices of the reviewed nation. While a step forward, further steps are needed to attain meaningful transparency at the multilateral level that translates into better commercial policies.