RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/TPR/D/53
5 October 2000
(00-4060)
Trade Policy Review Body
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM
REVIEW OF BAHRAIN
Communication from the Discussant
In pursuance of Annex 3, paragraph C (iv) of the WTO Agreement, the following are the
main points to be raised by the discussant, Dr. R. Barba (Mexico), at the Trade Policy Review of
Bahrain on 11 and 13 October 2000.
It is recalled that the discussant acts in his personal capacity.  He intends to divide his remarks
largely along the following lines:
I. Macroeconomic developments:
- The fiscal situation
- State involvement in the economy (priva tization plans, foreign direct investment
promotion)
- The impact of high oil-revenue inflows in the economy
II. Trade policy and trade measures:
- Regional agreements (GCC) and their impact on foreign trade
- Changes in tariffs (applied vis-à-vis  bound, escalation) and NTMs
- Prospects for introducing certain legislations (anti-dumping, competition, safeguards)
III. Sector issues:
- Diversification towards non-energy intensive manufacturing products
- Plans for further liberalization/commitments in certain services sectors
(telecommunications, transport)
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