WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/VAL/22
10 March 2000
(00-0944)
Committee on Customs Valuation
RESERVATION BY THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC UNDER PARAGRAPH 1 OF
ANNEX III OF TH E AGREEMENT ON IMPLEMEN TATION OF ARTICLE VII
OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE 1994
Decision
The following Decision concerning the reservation by the Dominican Republic under
paragraph 1 of Annex III of the Agreement on Customs Valuation was adopted by the Committee on
3 March 2000.1
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TAKING NOTE of the Government of the Dominican Republic's request under paragraph 1
of Annex III of the Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs
and Trade 1994 ("WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation"), done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994, toextend its delay in the application of the provisions of that Agreement;
RECOGNIZING that on 9 March 1995, the Dominican Republic became a contracting party
to the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation and invoked paragraph 1 of Article 20 of that
Agreement to delay application of its provisions for a period of five years from the date of entry into
force of the Agreement on 9 March 1995, and was therefore scheduled to apply the provisions of that
Agreement by 9 March 2000;
CONSIDERING the Dominican Republic has made substantial efforts to implement the
provisions of the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation;
CONSIDERING also that the Dominican Republic has received technical assistance and has a
continuing interest in taking advantage of technical assistance in support of implementation and
application of the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation;
NOTING the Dominican Republic' s long-standing commitment and considerable efforts in
reforming and modernizing its customs administration;
NOTING also the Dominican Republic's objective of ensuring the effective implementation
and administration of the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation;
NOTING that the Dominican Republic's authorities have established a detailed work
programme
2, involving the relevant ministries and agency, to enable the elaboration and approval of
its legislation and the completion of its domestic administrative and legal procedures, including
training, dissemination of information, and othe r actions, for implementing and applying the WTO
Agreement on Customs Valuation;
                                                     
1 See document G/VAL/M/13 to be issued.
2Attachment 1 – Work Programme.G/VAL/22
Page 2
NOTING that, in regard of paragraph 2 of Annex III of the WTO Agreement on Customs
Valuation, the Dominican Republic will not apply minimum values to any products when it
implements the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation after the expiration of this requested period
of delay in its implementation;
NOTING  that the Dominican Republic already applies paragraph 2 of the Decision on the
Valuation of Carrier Media Bearing Software for Data Processing Equipment3;
NOTING that the Government of the Dominica n Republic does not use or plan to use
preshipment inspection services for purposes of customs valuation;
RECOGNIZING the Dominican Republic's indication that this would be a single request for
an extension to delay its implementation of the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation;
Members, acting pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 1 of Annex III of the WTO
Agreement on Customs Valuation,
DECIDE, in view of the exceptional circumstances set out above, that:
1. Subject to the terms and conditions set out hereunder, the Dominican Republic may delay
further the application of the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation for aperiod not extending beyond 1 July 2001.
2. The Government of the Dominican Republic shall report to the Committee on Customs
Valuation by 30 September 2000 and again by 28 February 2001 on the progress in fulfilling
the work programme in Attachment I and the status of its implementation of the WTOAgreement on Customs Valuation under the terms and conditions of this Decision.
3. This Decision shall not prejudice the rights and obligations of the Dominican Republic under
the WTO Agreements, in particular those rights and obligations under the WTO Agreement
on Customs Valuation.
                                                     
3 G/VAL/5.G/VAL/22
Page 3DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
GENERAL CUSTOMS DIRECTORATE (DGA)
Work Programme
Period 2000 - 2002
General objective: Completion of the process of implementation of the Customs Valuation Agreement
(Implementation of Article VII of the GATT 1994)
Specific objectives Activities P eriod Requirements Goals Indicators
1. Updating of the legal
structure of the
Dominican customs(a) Approval of the Draft Tariff
Reform and development of
legislation to ensure its efficient
implementation.
(b) Approval of the Draft Customs Law
in order to bring the institution intoconformity with modern traderequirements and with the
commitments assumed.
(c) Updating of the regulations
necessary for the implementation ofthe new legal system.18 months Consultations with the economic
sectors in order to achieve the
broadest possible agreement on
the implementation of the NewTariff Code and the DominicanCustoms Law.New Tariff Code and
Customs Law24 months:  full entry into
force of the Customs Code
and the Dominican
Customs Law with thecorresponding regulationsfor their implementation inall customs areas.
2. Simplification of
customs procedures(a) Completion of the General Manual
of Procedures for all operational
and technical areas.
(b) Completion of the process of
amending all of the documents usedfor internal control.
(c) Development of risk assessment
programmes to enhance selectivity
in the inspection of goods.18 months Technical assistance of
international bodies for reviewing
the outcome of the process of
re-engineering procedures andamending documents.
Intensification of work towards
achieving conformity of all
customs officials directly
involved in the application of theentire internal reform process.Automation of all customs
procedures.
Monitoring of the reformed
customs structure.
Installation of new
laboratory equipment.18 months:  reduction to a
minimum of the time
required for clearing goods
through customs and of thecosts of that process.
3. Strengthening of the
customs valuationservice(a) Completion of the adaptation of the
valuation system to bring it into fullconformity with Article VII of the
GATT 1994.
(b) Development of valuation
regulations so as to fullyincorporate these provisions into theinternal operating system.15 months Hiring of specialists in the
implementation of WTOvaluation systems using
electronic tools (eight months).
Organization of specialized
training for six officials over aperiod of four weeks in countriesFull application of the
GATT 1994 CustomsValuation Agreement.15 months:  application of
the GATT valuationconcept and maintenance
of effective control of
the transaction value of50% of declarationsusing mechanisms thatpermit the selectionG/VAL/22
Page 4Specific objectives Activities P eriod Requirements Goals Indicators
(c) Strengthening of the central
valuation unit in the DGA.
(d) Strengthening of the local units
responsible for operating inaccordance with the new WTO
valuation system.with experience in implementing
the new valuation system.
Completion of the database
organized in the valuation
department of the DGA.and control of sensitive
goods.
4. Improve the auditing of
customs administration(a) Improvement of the auditing
department in the areas of internaland external control.
(b) Selection of a representative sample
of major importers to confirm the
efficiency and flexibility of
controls.
(c) Development of risk assessment
programmes in order to make thesubsequent control section moreeffective.
(d) Placing auditing functions under the
Technical Sub-Directorate of theDGA.18 months Hiring of an international
consultant specialized in theorganization of auditing functions(six months).
Advanced training programme for
auditors (six months).
Purchase of new computer
equipment with high storagecapacity.All customs service users. 12 months:  scope of
inspection in one year, upto 50% of service users.18 months:  scope ofinspection in the second
year up to 90% of service
users.
5. Upgrading of the
computer system(a) Expansion of programmes for the
conditional relief and special
customs import regimes.
(b) Preparation of manuals containing
the operational design of thenetwork.
(c) Expansion of the computer system
to all points of the network.
(d) Further application of the continued
training programme to improve themanagement of the computersystem by authorized officials.15 months Training of highly qualified
professionals in data processing.
Formation of technical customs
teams to optimize computerizedtariffs.
Further implementation of the
special continued trainingprogramme in the area of networkcontrol and operation.Complete utilization of
computer resources for the
control of the new valuationsystem.In 15 months:  all customs
declarations should be
processed by computer.G/VAL/22
Page 5Specific objectives Activities P eriod Requirements Goals Indicators
6. Stepping up the process
of upgrading theorganizational structure(a) Completion of the development of
the organizational structure with jobdescriptions and definition ofadministrative and technicalfunctions.
(b) Definition of the administrative
career structure with rulesgoverning recruitment, entryselection and promotion.
(c) Determination of areas requiring
training and implementation of the
corresponding programmes.18 months Specialized consultation with
domestic companies.Introduction of the new
structure.In 12 months:
establishment of a newstructure in keeping withthe requirements of amodern customs
administration.
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