RESTRICTED  
  
WT/ACC/SYC/44/Add.1  
 
18 September 2013  
(13-4956)  Page: 1/9  
Working Party on the Accession of the Republic of 
Seychelles  Original: English  
 
 ACCESSION OF SEYCHELLES 
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND REPLIES 
Addendum 
The following submission, dated 17 September 2013, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of the Republic of Seychelles. 
 
_______________  
  WT/ACC/SYC/44/Add.1  
 
- 2 - DRAFT SPECIFIC COMMITMENT PARAGRAPHS AS INCORPORATED IN THE DRAFT WORKING PARTY REPORT (WT/ACC/SPEC/SYC/6) 
SECTIONS OF THE DRAFT 
WORKING PARTY REPORT (DWPR) WT/ACC/SYC/30 AMENDMENTS TO DRAFTS PROPOSED 
IN WT/ACC/SYC/30 ADDITIONAL/NEWLY PROPOSED SPECIFIC 
COMMITMENTS  
Monetary and Fiscal Policy - - 14. [The representative of Seychelles said that a new 
implementing regulation under the "Customs Management Act 2011" had been enacted.  This implementing regulation was the "Customs Management (T ariff and Classification of 
Goods) Regulations 2013".  This new implementing regulation had repealed and replaced the "Trades Tax 
(Import Tariffs) Regulations 1997".  He confirmed that any 
new implementing regulations under the "Customs Management Act 2011" would be notified to the WTO.  The Working Party took note of this commitment.] 
Foreign Exchange and 
Payments - - - 
Investment Regime - - - 
State Ownership and 
Privatization  - Paragraph 57  
(Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected in document WT/ACC/SYC/30)
 No changes. - 
Pricing Policies - Paragraph 63  
(Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected in document WT/ACC/SYC/30)
 No changes. - 
Competition Policy - - - 
Powers of Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of Government - Paragraph 74  
 (Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected in document WT/ACC/SYC/30)  No changes. - 
Authority of Sub-Central 
Governments - - 76. [The representative of Seychelles confirmed that sub-
central authorities had no autonomous authority over issues of subsidies, taxation, trade policy, or any other measures 
covered by WTO provisions.  He confirmed that the provisions of the WTO Agreements, including Seychelles' Protocol, would be applied unif ormly throughout its Customs 
territory and other territories und er its control, including in 
regions engaging in border trad e or frontier traffic, special 
economic zones, and other areas where special regimes for tariffs, taxes and regulations we re established.   He further 
confirmed that when apprised of a situation where WTO provisions were not being appl ied or were applied in a non-
uniform manner, the central authorities would act to enforce WTO provisions without requiring affected parties to petition 
through the Courts. The Working Party took note of these commitments.]  
  WT/ACC/SYC/44/Add.1  
 
- 3 - SECTIONS OF THE DRAFT 
WORKING PARTY REPORT (DWPR) WT/ACC/SYC/30 AMENDMENTS TO DRAFTS PROPOSED 
IN WT/ACC/SYC/30 ADDITIONAL/NEWLY PROPOSED SPECIFIC 
COMMITMENTS  
Trading Rights [The representative of Seychelles 
confirmed that from the date of 
accession Seychelles would ensure 
that its laws and regulations relating 
to the right to trade in goods and all 
fees, charges and taxes levied on 
such rights would be in full conformity 
with WTO provisions, including Article 
VIII:1(a), XI:1 and III:2,  4 of the 
GATT 1994, Article 3 of the GATS, 
and Article 63 of the TRIPS 
Agreement. The Working Party took 
note of these commitments.] 98. [The representative of Seychelles 
confirmed that, from the date of accession, Seychelles would grant any natural or 
legal person, regardless of physical 
presence or investment in Seychelles, 
the right to be the importer of record 
of any product allowed to be imported 
into Seychelles, at any level of 
distribution, and that its laws and 
regulations relating to the right to 
trade in goods and all fees, charges or 
taxes levied on such rights would 
conform fully with its WTO obligations, 
including articles VIII:1(a), XI:1 and 
III:2 and 4 of the GATT 1994, Article 
III of the GATS, and Article 63 of the 
TRIPS Agreement.   He also confirmed 
that full rights to import and to export 
would be granted in a non-
discriminatory and non-discretionary 
manner from the date of accession, 
and any requirements for commercial 
registration or application for the right 
to import or to export would be for 
Customs purposes only, would not 
require investment in Seychelles nor 
confer the right to distribute there, 
and would not constitute a barrier to 
trade in so far that the natural or legal 
person was not physically established 
in Seychelles. The Working Party took 
note of these commitments.]- 
Ordinary customs duties - - -  
  WT/ACC/SYC/44/Add.1  
 
- 4 - SECTIONS OF THE DRAFT 
WORKING PARTY REPORT (DWPR) WT/ACC/SYC/30 AMENDMENTS TO DRAFTS PROPOSED 
IN WT/ACC/SYC/30 ADDITIONAL/NEWLY PROPOSED SPECIFIC 
COMMITMENTS  
Other duties and charges [The representative of Seychelles 
confirmed that, from the date of 
accession, Seychelles would bind 
other duties and ch arges, as defined 
in Article II:b of the GATT 1994, as 
specified in its Schedule of 
Concessions and Commitments on 
Goods.  The Working Party took note 
of this commitment]  111. [The representative of Seychelles 
confirmed that, upon accession, Seychelles would bind all Other Duties 
and Charges in its Schedule of 
Concessions and Commitments for 
Goods at zero, pursuant to Article 
II:1(b) of the GATT 1994.   The Working 
Party took note of this commitment.]  
 - 
Tariff rate quotas, tariff 
exemptions - Paragraph 115  
(Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected in document WT/ACC/SYC/30) No changes. - 
Fees and charges for 
services rendered - Paragraph 118  
(Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected in document WT/ACC/SYC/30) No changes. - 
Application of internal 
taxes to imports - Paragraph 128  
(Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected in document WT/ACC/SYC/30)  No changes. - 
Quantitative import 
restrictions, including prohibitions, quotas and licensing systems - Paragraph 155  
(Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected in document WT/ACC/SYC/30) No changes. - 
Customs valuation - Paragraph 163  
(Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected 
in document WT/ACC/SYC/30) No changes. - 
Rules of origin - Paragraph 168  
(Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected 
in document WT/ACC/SYC/30) No changes. - 
Other customs 
formalities - - -  
  WT/ACC/SYC/44/Add.1  
 
- 5 - SECTIONS OF THE DRAFT 
WORKING PARTY REPORT (DWPR) WT/ACC/SYC/30 AMENDMENTS TO DRAFTS PROPOSED 
IN WT/ACC/SYC/30 ADDITIONAL/NEWLY PROPOSED SPECIFIC 
COMMITMENTS  
Preshipment inspection - - 172. The representative of Seychelles stated that if 
preshipment inspection requirements were introduced, they would be temporary and in conf ormity with the requirements 
of the Agreement on Preshipment Inspection and other WTO relevant Agreements.  Seychelles would take full 
responsibility to ensure that such enterprises operating on its behalf complied with the provisions of WTO Agreements including the Agreements on Technical Barriers to Trade, the Application of Sanitary and Ph ytosanitary Measures, Import 
Licensing Procedures, the Implementation of Article VII, Rules of Origin, the Implementation of Article VI (Anti-dumping), Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, Safeguards, and Agriculture.  The establishment of charges 
and fees would be consistent  with Article VIII of the 
GATT 1994 and Seychelles wo uld ensure that the due 
process and transparency requirements of the WTO Agreements, in particular Article X of the GATT 1994 would be applied.  De cisions by such firms could be appealed 
by importers in the same way as administrative decisions taken by the Government of Se ychelles.  The Working Party 
took note of these commitments. 
Anti-dumping, countervailing duties, safeguard regimes - - 174. The representative of Seychelles confirmed that 
Seychelles, from the date of a ccession, would not apply any 
anti-dumping, countervailing or safeguard measures until it had implemented and notified a ppropriate laws in conformity 
with the provisions of the WTO Agreements on these matters.   Seychelles would ensu re the full conformity of any 
such legislation with the relevant WTO provisions, including 
Article VI and XIX of the GATT 1994 and the Agreement on 
the Implementation of Article VI, the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and the Agreement 
on Safeguards.  After such le gislation was implemented and 
notified, Seychelles would only apply any anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties an d safeguard measures in full 
conformity with the relevant WTO provisions.  In addition, 
Seychelles would provide a su bsidy notification to the 
Committee on Subsidies and Counterva iling Measures in 
accordance with Article 25 of the Agreement upon entry into force of Seychelles Protocol of  Accession. He also confirmed 
that Seychelles would not invoke any of the provisions of Articles 27, 28 and 29 of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. The Working Party took note of these commitments.  
  WT/ACC/SYC/44/Add.1  
 
- 6 - SECTIONS OF THE DRAFT 
WORKING PARTY REPORT (DWPR) WT/ACC/SYC/30 AMENDMENTS TO DRAFTS PROPOSED 
IN WT/ACC/SYC/30 ADDITIONAL/NEWLY PROPOSED SPECIFIC 
COMMITMENTS  
Customs tariffs - - - 
Export restrictions - Paragraph 193  
(Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected in document WT/ACC/SYC/30)  No changes. - 
Export subsidies - - - 
Industrial policy, 
including subsidies [The representative of Seychelles 
confirmed that, within 1 year from the 
date of accession, Seychelles would 
not maintain subsidies which met the 
definition of a prohibited subsidy, 
within the meaning of Article 3 of the 
WTO Agreement on Subsidies and 
Countervailing Measures, and seeks a 
1 year transition period to provide for 
the elimination of all such measures. 
Further, he confirmed that any 
subsidy programme in place or 
established after accession within the 
territory of Seychelles would be 
administered in conformity with the 
WTO Agreement on SCM. In addition, 
Seychelles would provide a subsidy 
notification to the Committee on 
Subsidies and Countervailing 
Measures in accord ance with Article 
25 of the Agreement upon entry into 
force of Seychelles Protocol of 
Accession. He also confirmed that 
Seychelles would not invoke any of 
the provisions of Articles 27, 28 and 
29 of the WTO Agreement on 
Subsidies and Countervailing 
Measures. The Working Party took 
note of these commitments.] 209. [The representative of Seychelles 
confirmed that, from the date of 
accession, Seychelles would not 
maintain subsidies which met the 
definition of a prohibited subsidy, 
within the meaning of Article 3 of the 
WTO Agreement on Subsidies and 
Countervailing Measures. Further, he 
confirmed that any subsidy 
programme in place or established 
after accession within the territory of 
Seychelles would be administered in 
conformity with the WTO Agreement 
on Subsidies and Countervailing 
Measures. In addition, Seychelles 
would provide a subsidy notification to 
the Committee on Subsidies and 
Countervailing Measures in accordance 
with Article 25 of the Agreement upon 
entry into force of Seychelles Protocol 
of Accession. He also confirmed that 
Seychelles would not invoke any of the 
provisions of Articles 27, 28 and 29 of 
the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and 
Countervailing Measures.   The Working 
Party took note of these commitments.] 
 - 
Technical barriers to 
trade [The representative of Seychelles 
confirmed that Seychelles would 
apply [within … years from the date of 
accession, in line with the TBT 
Checklist and the Legislative Action 
Plan (documents: ….)] any laws, 
regulations or other measures 
governing technical barriers to trade, 231. [The representative of Seychelles 
confirmed that Seychelles would progressively implement the 
provisions of the WTO Agreement on 
Technical Barriers to Trade in 
accordance with the TBT-specific 
Action Plan provided for in Table […] 
in Annex 2.  Full implementation -  
  WT/ACC/SYC/44/Add.1  
 
- 7 - SECTIONS OF THE DRAFT 
WORKING PARTY REPORT (DWPR) WT/ACC/SYC/30 AMENDMENTS TO DRAFTS PROPOSED 
IN WT/ACC/SYC/30 ADDITIONAL/NEWLY PROPOSED SPECIFIC 
COMMITMENTS  
standards and certification  in full 
conformity with the provisions of the 
WTO TBT Agreement.  The Working 
Party took note of this commitment.] would start from December 2015 
without recourse to any further 
transitional period.  He further 
confirmed that Seychelles would 
ensure that all of its laws, regulations 
or other measures governing technical 
barriers to trade, standards and 
certification would be in full 
conformity with the provisions of the 
WTO TBT Agreement.  The Working 
Party took note of this commitment.] 
Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary measures [The representative of Seychelles 
confirmed that Seychelles would 
apply [within … years from the date of 
accession, in line with the 
SPS Checklist and the Legislative 
Action Plan (documents: ….)] any 
laws, regulations or other measures 
governing Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
measures in full conformity with the 
provisions of the WTO SPS 
Agreement.  The Working Party took 
note of this commitment.] 251. [The representative of Seychelles 
confirmed that Seychelles would progressively implement the 
provisions of the WTO Agreement on 
the Application of Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures, in accordance 
with the SPS specific Action Plan 
provided in Table [..] in Annex 2.  
Seychelles would ensure full 
implementation of the SPS Agreement 
by December 2015.  He further 
confirmed that Seychelles would base 
all of its SPS measures on the Codex 
Alimentarius, OIE and IPPC standards, 
guidelines and recommendations, in 
accordance with the requirements of 
the SPS Agreement.  SPS measures 
would be applied only to the extent 
necessary to protect human, animal, 
or plant life or health and would not 
be more trade restrictive than 
required to achieve the appropriate 
level of protection applied in 
Seychelles.  He also confirmed that 
sanitary and other certification 
requirements in Seychelles would be 
administered in a transparent and 
expeditious manner, and that his 
Government would be willing to 
consult with WTO members 
concerning the effect of these 
requirements on their trade with a -  
  WT/ACC/SYC/44/Add.1  
 
- 8 - SECTIONS OF THE DRAFT 
WORKING PARTY REPORT (DWPR) WT/ACC/SYC/30 AMENDMENTS TO DRAFTS PROPOSED 
IN WT/ACC/SYC/30 ADDITIONAL/NEWLY PROPOSED SPECIFIC 
COMMITMENTS  
view to resolving issues that Members 
raised.   The Working Party took note of 
these commitments.] 
Trade-related investment 
measures - Paragraph 254  
(Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected in document WT/ACC/SYC/30)  No changes. - 
State-trading entities - - - 
Free Zones, special 
economic areas - Paragraph 266  
(Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected in document WT/ACC/SYC/30) No changes. - 
Government procurement - - 274. [The representative of Seychelles confirmed that, 
within one year from the date of  accession, Seychelles would 
initiate negotiations to accede to the WTO Agreement on Government Procuremen t.  The Working Party took note of 
this commitment.] 
Transit - Paragraph 276  
(Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected in document WT/ACC/SYC/30) No changes. - 
Agricultural policies - - 281. The representative of Seychelles confirmed that, upon 
accession, Seychelles would bind its agricultural export subsidies at zero in its Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods, and not maintain or apply any export subsidies for agricultural products.  The Working Party 
took note of these commitments. 
Trade in civil aircraft [The representative of Seychelles 
confirmed that, with in five years from 
the date of accession, Seychelles 
would initiate negotiations to accede 
to the WTO Agreement on Trade in 
Civil Aircraft.  The Working Party took 
note of this commitment.] 290. [The representative of Seychelles 
confirmed that, from the date of 
accession , Seychelles would initiate 
negotiations to accede to the WTO 
Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft.  The Working Party took note of this commitment.]  - 
Textiles regime - - -  
  WT/ACC/SYC/44/Add.1  
 
- 9 - SECTIONS OF THE DRAFT 
WORKING PARTY REPORT (DWPR) WT/ACC/SYC/30 AMENDMENTS TO DRAFTS PROPOSED 
IN WT/ACC/SYC/30 ADDITIONAL/NEWLY PROPOSED SPECIFIC 
COMMITMENTS  
TRIPS [The representative of Seychelles 
confirmed that, upon accession, any 
infringement of intellectual property 
rights would be addressed using 
existing enforcement provisions and 
remedies, which are consistent with 
the TRIPS Agreement.  The Working 
Party took note of this commitment.]   
[The representative of Seychelles 
confirmed that the draft legislations 
implementing Seychelles' intellectual 
property legislation consistent with 
the TRIPS Agreement, which 
Seychelles had shared with the 
Working Party, would be adopted by 
the date of accession.  The Working 
Party took note of this commitment.] 336. [The representative of 
Seychelles stated that Seychelles 
would apply the provisions of the 
WTO Agreement on Trade-Related 
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 
no later than the date of its accession 
to the WTO, without recourse to any 
transitional periods. The Working 
Party took note of this commitment]  
Services - Paragraph 343  
(Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected 
in document WT/ACC/SYC/30) No changes. - 
Publication of 
information on trade - Paragraph 346  
(Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected in document WT/ACC/SYC/30)
 No changes. - 
Notifications [The representative of Seychelles 
confirmed that, unless otherwise 
provided for in this Report, Seychelles 
would submit all the initial 
notifications required by 
any Agreement constituting part of 
the WTO Agreement upon accession.  
As new legislation implementing the 
provisions of WTO Agreements was 
enacted, revised notifications would 
be provided.  The Working Party took 
note of these commitments.]  347. [The representative of Seychelles 
said that, at the latest within 12 
months of the entry into force of the 
Protocol of Accession , Seychelles would 
submit all initial notifications required by 
the WTO Agreement.  Any laws, 
regulations, or other measures 
subsequently enacted by Seychelles, 
and which were required to be notified 
pursuant to the WTO Agreement, 
would also be notified in a time and 
manner consistent with WTO 
requirements.   The Working Party took 
note of these commitments.]  
 - 
TRADE AGREEMENTS - Paragraph 352  
(Incorporated in DWPR, as reflected 
in document WT/ACC/SYC/30)  - - 
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