RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/VAL/W/49
30 November 1999
(99-5144)
Committee on Customs Valuation Original:  English
RECENT SWITZERLAND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES
The following communication1, dated 12 November 1999, has been received from the
Permanent Mission of Switzerland with the request that it be circulated.
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Switzerland is fully aware of the importance of technical assistance in facilitating the
implementation of the WTO Customs Valuatio n Agreement for the WTO Members availing
themselves of the transition periods under Part III of the Agreement.  For many years Switzerland hasprovided directly or indirectly technical assistance in the customs area, which is not limited to
Customs valuation (see table in annex).  The three Swiss technical assistance activities mentioned
hereafter are more specific to the customs valuation issue. Switzerland will continue to provide
technical assistance to matters relating to customs issues.
Agreement on Customs Valuation
In October 1997, the Committee on Customs Valuation agreed to contribute towards
streamlining and tailoring technical assistance activities to the particular needs of developing
countries.  Therefore, Switzerland supports the WTO programme to assist government officials in
beneficiary countries to implement this Agreement.
The technical assistance missions related to customs valuation financed by Switzerland during
1998 represent an amount of US$ 60'000 and were provided to the following Members:
- Kenya (21-23 September)
- Paraguay (28 September-02 October)- Malta (12-15 October)
- Peru (14-16 October)
- Columbia (19-21 October)
- Mauritius (26-27 October)
- Surinam (16-20 November)- Sri Lanka (20-23 October)
- Oman (01-04 November)
Joint Implemented Technical Assistance Program  (JITAP)
JITAP or Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme in Selected Least Developed and
other African Countries, mobilises the expertise and support of UNCTAD, ITC and WTO to help
partner countries strengthen their national capacities in order to participate and benefit from the new
Multilateral Trading System.  The programme is delivered through national projects of which
                                                     
1 Circulated informally at the meeting of the Committee on Customs Valuation on 26 April 1999.G/VAL/W/49
Page 2
Switzerland is covering Ghana and Uganda.  The programme was initiated in 1999 and will run until
2002.  The budget for these two projects is US$ 2,200,000.
The core of these projects consists in providing information and training to the national
customs authorities on the implementation of the WTO Agreement.  This information focusesparticularly on notification procedures and all other issues related to the implementation of Article VII
of GATT 1994.
Trade Facilitation Measures
Switzerland plans to initiate this programme during the year 2000.  Within the programme
plan, projects to implement the Agreement on Customs Valuation will also be initiated incollaboration with the private sector entities and international organizations.  The objective is to target
skilled service providers who will offer low-cost services to LDCs in order to implement the Customs
Valuation's Agreement efficiently.  We recognise the programme to be ambitious because next to the
customs administrations, the finance authorities must also be involved.  In consequence, Switzerland
believes that this programme and its measures should be discussed in the broader context of "TradeFacilitation".
A budget of US$ 2,000,000 is planned for this programme.G/VAL/W/49
Page 3SWISS TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL COOPERATION FOR CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATIONS
Funded by the Government of Switzerland
Project, Country Description Executing
AgencyPeriod Budget
ASYCUDA
Developing CountriesComputerization of Customs Administrations UNCTAD since 1993
ongoingCHF
1.6 million
Haiti Customs
HaitiCustom Capacity Strengthening, ASYCUDA and
TrainingIDB 1996-1998
finishedCHF
1.5 million
Integrated Data Base (IDB)
Developing CountriesProviding information for submission of data to IDB
(seminars, training, field missions)WTO 1999 CHF 25,000
Agreement on Customs Valuation
(WTO)
Developing CountriesFinanced technical missions for the implementation
of the Customs Valuation AgreementWTO/WCO 1999
ongoingCHF max
100,000
WCO's Trainee
French speaking Developing CountriesProgramme for Customs Trainees Swiss customs since 1991
ongoingCHF 200,000
JITAP
Ghana, UgandaJoint Implemented Technical Assistance Programme
TRTC for the implementation of WTO AgreementsITC/UNCTAD
/ WTO1999-2002
ongoingUS$
2.2 million
Trade Facilitation Measures
Swiss TRTC CountriesTrade Facilitation Measures and Implementation of
the Agreement on Customs Valuationdiverse
institutions2000-2002
in prep.CHF
2 million
Customs Education
Western AfricaCapacity Building for customs officers Swiss customs since 1995
ongoingCHF
1.75 million
Legend: ITC: International Trade Centre
TRTC: Trade Related Technical Cooperation.
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