./.RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/VAL/M/18
16 March 2001
(01-1308)
Committee on Customs Valuation
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 20 DECEMBER 2000
Chairman: Mr. Remo Moretta (Australia)
The agenda proposed for the meeting, circulated in WTO/AIR/1463, was adopted as follows:
I. INFORMATION ON IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF
THE AGREEM ENT............................................................................................................1
A. N OTIFICATIONS MADE BY DEVELOPING COUNTRY MEMBERS ................................................1
(i) Bahrain ..................................................................................................................... ...........1
(ii) Nica ragua .................................................................................................................. ............1
(iii) Sene gal ................................................................................................................... .............1
II. OTHER BUSINESS.............................................................................................................2
I. INFORMATION ON IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE
AGREEMENT
A. N OTIFICATIONS MADE BY DEVELOPING COUNTRY MEMBERS
(i) Bahrain
(ii) Nicaragua
1.1 The Chairman informed the Committee that Bahrain had submitted a work programme for
consideration which would be circulated to Members, and that consultations among Members was
continuing with respect to the request by Nicaragua.
(iii) Senegal
1.2 The Chairman drew Members' attention to document G/VAL/W/45/Add.2 which contained
the draft decision for Senegal's request for an extension under paragraph 1, Annex III of the
Agreement.
1.3 The Committee adopted the draft decision contained in G/VAL/W/45/Add.2.
1.4 The representative of Senegal welcomed the Decision adopted by the Committee granting his
Government an additional 18 months as from 1 Ja nuary 2000 to implement the Agreement.  He noted
that the extension was important to his Government as it gave the time necessary to make certain
reforms for implementation of the Agreement.  Reorganizing the customs administration involved a
reorganization of customs administration services and improvement of the informatics sector.  HisG/VAL/M/18
Page 2
Government hoped that overall implementation of the Agreement would come into effect on 1 July
2001 upon conclusion of the activities in the work programme attached to the Decision.  To this end,
technical assistance would be essential in order to help the transition process and to bring about a
progressive replacement of the present system to the WTO system.  This would increase the flow of
trade and create a more attractive environment for trade.  For as long as this goal was not achieved,his Government reserved its right to use other means which would enable it to meet, with rigor and
transparency, the many constraints which accompanied its level of development.
II. OTHER BUSINESS
2.1 The Chairman proposed that, barring the need to meet formally before this date, the next
formal meeting would be 11 April 2001.  He added that the year 2000 had been an active one for this
Committee, and he thanked Members for their constructive approach to the often complex issuesunder consideration.
2.2 The meeting was adjourned.
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