WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/VAL/W/162 
9 October 2007 
 
 (07-4317) 
Committee on Customs Valuation   
  
 
THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND 
OPERATION OF THE AGREEM ENT ON IMPLEMENTATION 
OF ARTICLE VII OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT 
ON TARIFFS AND TRADE 1994 
 
Background Working Document by the Secretariat
 
   This working document is circulated by the Secretariat in preparation for the thirteenth annual review of the implementation and operation of the Agreement on Implem entation of Article VII of the 
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (the Ag reement), to be conducted at the forthcoming 
meeting on 18 October 2007.  As indicated in the te xt below, this document will have to be updated in 
light of the discussion at that meeting in order to give a full picture of the developments in the Committee during the current year.  
_______________ 
 
  Article 23 of the Agreement provides that "the Committee shall review annually the implementation and operation of this Agreement taking into ac count the objectives thereof". 
 
 The main objectives of the Agr eement are those listed  in the General Introductory Commentary.  
The annual review of the Committee should cove r the implementation and ope ration of the Agreement 
in the light of its objectives and specific obligations.  G/VAL/W/162 
Page 2  
 
   The contents of this document are as follows: 
  Page
 
I. MEMBERS, DELAYED APPLICATIONS, RESERVATIONS AND 
OBSERVER STATUS..............................................................................................................3  
(a) WTO Members (151).............................................................................................................. ....3 
(b) Delayed Application and Reservations.......................................................................................4  
(i) Article 20.1 (delayed application of the provisions of the Agreement).......................................4  
(ii) Article 20.2 (delayed application of the computed value method) (1)........................................4  
(iii) Annex III, paragraph 1 (extension of the five-year delay period)...............................................4  
(iv) Annex III, paragraph 2 (reservation concerning minimum values)............................................4  
(v) Annex III, paragraph 3 (reservation concerni ng reversal of sequential order of 
Articles 5 and 6) (53) ......................................................................................................... .........4  
(vi) Annex III, paragraph 4 (reservation to apply Ar ticle 5.2 whether or not the importer 
so requests) (51).............................................................................................................. ............5  
(c) Observer Govern ments (30)...................................................................................................... ..5 
(d) Observer International Organizations (6) ...................................................................................5  
II. OFFICERS OF THE WTO COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS VALUATION......................5  
III. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE ....................................................................................6  
IV. NATIONAL LEGISLATION PRESENTED .........................................................................6  
(a) Texts of national legislation.................................................................................................. ......6  
(b) Checklist of issues ............................................................................................................ ..........6  
(c) Examination of national legislation ............................................................................................ 6 
(d) Information on the application of the Committee Decisions ......................................................6  
V. AMENDMENTS, INTERPRETATIONS AND RECTIFICATIONS OF THE 
TEXT OF THE AGREEMENT ..............................................................................................7  
VI. OTHER DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE .....................................................7  
VII. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ..................................................................................................7  
VIII.  REPORTS BY THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS VALUATION ...................................................................................................................... ......7
 
IX. CONSULTATION  AND  DISPUTE  SETTLEMENT ............................................................7  
X. ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COUNCIL  FOR TRADE IN GOODS.................................7  
  G/VAL/W/162 
 Page 3 
 
 
  I. MEMBERS, DELAYED APPLICATIONS, RESERVATIONS AND OBSERVER 
STATUS 
(a) WTO Members (151) 
Albania Georgia Niger 
Angola Germany Nigeria 
Antigua and Barbuda Ghana Norway Argentina Greece Oman 
Armenia Grenada Pakistan 
Australia Guatemala Panama Austria Guinea Bissau Papua New Guinea 
Bahrain Guinea, Rep. of Paraguay 
Bangladesh Guyana Peru Barbados Haiti Philippines 
Belgium Honduras Poland 
Belize Hong Kong, China Portugal Benin Hungary Qatar 
Bolivia Iceland Romania 
Botswana India Rwanda 
Brazil Indonesia Saint Kitts and Nevis 
Brunei Darussalam Ireland Saint Lucia Bulgaria Israel Sain t Vincent & Grenadine 
Burkina Faso Italy Saudi Arabia 
Burundi Jamaica Senegal Cambodia Japan Sierra Leone 
Cameroon 
Canada Jordan 
Kenya Singapore 
Slovak Republic 
Central African Republic Korea Slovenia 
Chad Kuwait Solomon Islands 
Chile Kyrgyz Republic South Africa China Latvia Spain 
Colombia Lesotho Sri Lanka 
Congo Liechtenstein Suriname Congo, Democratic Rep. of the  Lithuania Swaziland 
Costa Rica Luxembourg Sweden 
Côte d'Ivoire Macao, China Switzerland Croatia Madagascar Chinese Taipei 
Cuba Malawi Tanzania 
Cyprus Malaysia Thailand 
Czech Republic Maldives Togo 
Denmark Mali Tonga Djibouti Malta Trinidad and Tobago 
Dominica Mauritania Tunisia 
Dominican Republic Mauritius Turkey Ecuador Mexico Uganda 
Egypt Moldova United Arab Emirates 
El Salvador Mongolia United Kingdom Estonia Morocco United States 
European Community Mozambique Uruguay 
Fiji Myanmar Venezuela, The Bolivarian Rep. of Finland Namibia Viet Nam 
Former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia Nepal Zambia 
France Netherlands Zimbabwe Gabon New Zealand  
The Gambia Nicaragua  G/VAL/W/162 
Page 4  
 
  (b) Delayed Application and Reservations 
This table reflects the situation with respect to special and differential treatment provisions 
available for developing country Members as at  14 October 2004.  These provisions have been 
invoked as follows:  (i) Article 20.1 (delayed application of the provisions of the Agreement)  
No Member maintains this special and differential treatment provision. 
(ii) Article 20.2 (delayed application of the computed value method)  
No Member maintains this special and differential treatment provision. 
(iii) Annex III, paragraph 1 (extension of the five-year delay period)  
No Member maintains this special and differential treatment provision. 
(iv) Annex III, paragraph 2 (reservation concerning minimum values)
1  
No Member maintains this special and differential treatment provision. 
(v) Annex III, paragraph 3 (reservation concerning reversal of sequential order of Articles 5 
and 6) (53) 
Argentina2 Guatemala Niger 
Bahrain Guyana Pakistan Bangladesh Haiti Panama Benin Honduras Peru
2 
Brazil2 India2 Philippines 
Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Senegal 
Burkina Faso Israel Sri Lanka 
Cameroon Jamaica Thailand Chile Kenya Togo Colombia Madagascar Tunisia Costa Rica Malawi
2 Turkey2 
Côte d'Ivoire Malaysia Uganda 
Djibouti Maldives United Arab Emirates Dominican Republic Mali Uruguay Ecuador Mexico
2 Venezuela, The  
Egypt Morocco2   Bolivarian Rep. of   
El Salvador Myanmar Zambia 
Gabon Nicaragua Zimbabwe2 
   
 
                                                      
1 This paragraph does not include those Members which have been granted reservations under the 
Article IX waiver provisions of the WTO Agreement. 
2 These Members maintain in the WTO the special an d differential treatment provisions invoked under 
the Tokyo Round Agreement th rough Decision WT/L/38.  G/VAL/W/162 
 Page 5 
 
 
  (vi) Annex III, paragraph 4 (reservation to apply Article 5.2 whether or not the importer so 
requests) (51) 
Argentina2 Ecuador Malaysia Sri Lanka 
Bahrain Egypt Malawi Thailand Bangladesh El Salvador Maldives Togo 
Benin Gabon Mali Tunisia 
Brazil
2 Guatemala Mexico2 Turkey2 
Brunei Darussalam Guyana Morocco2 Uruguay 
Burkina Faso Haiti Myanmar Venezuela, The  Cameroon Honduras Nicaragua   Bolivarian Rep. of 
Chile India
2 Niger Zambia 
Colombia Indonesia Nigeria Zimbabwe2 
Costa Rica Israel Pakistan  Côte d'Ivoire Jamaica Peru
2  
Djibouti Kenya Philippines  
Dominican Republic Madagascar Senegal  
    
 (c) Observer Governments (30) 
Afghanistan Laos, PDR 
Algeria Lebanon 
Andorra Libya 
Azerbaijan Montenegro Bahamas Russian Federation Belarus Samoa Bhutan Sao Tome and Principe 
Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbia  
Cape Verde Seychelles Equatorial Guinea Sudan Ethiopia Tajikistan Holy See Ukraine Iran Uzbekistan 
Iraq Vanuatu 
Kazakhstan Yemen 
 (d) Observer International Organizations (6)
3 
 World Customs Organization  UNCTAD  IADB 
 I M F      A C P    W o r l d  B a n k  
 
II. OFFICERS OF THE WTO COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS VALUATION 
 Chairman (elected in May 2007)   Mr Joe McClintock (United Kingdom) 
 
                                                      
3 These organizations now have official observer status following Agreement in the Committee 
(G/VAL/M/5) and Agreements between the World Bank and the IMF with the WTO (WT/L/195). G/VAL/W/162 
Page 6  
 
  III. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE 
 During the reporting period, the Committee has held two formal meetings.  The meetings on 
8 May (G/VAL/M/43) and on 18 October (G/VAL/M/ 44, to be issued) were chaired by Mr. Joe 
McClintock (United Kingdom).    IV. NATIONAL LEGISLATION PRESENTED 
(a) Texts of national legislation 
 Article 22 of the Agreement requires each Member  to inform the Committee of any changes in 
its laws and regulations relevant to the Agreem ent and in the administration of such laws and 
regulations.  At its fi rst meeting, on 12 May 1995, the Comm ittee agreed on procedures for the 
notification of national legislation (G/V AL/M/1, paragraphs 29-35, 71 and 72). 
  During the reporting period, the following co mmunications and texts ha ve been submitted: 
   E g y p t       ( G / V A L / N / 1 / E G Y / 1 )  
  S w a z i l a n d      ( G / V A L / N / 1 / S W Z / 1 )  
  Saudi Arabia     (G/VAL/N/1/SAU/1)   T a n z a n i a       ( G / V A L / N / 1 / T Z A / 1 )    Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia (G/VAL/N/1/MKD/1) 
 (b) Checklist of issues 
 At its first meeting, on 12 May 1995, the Commit tee agreed on procedures for the submission of 
a checklist of issues (G/VAL/M/1, pa ragraphs 36-39).  The checklist of issues is contained in G/VAL/5.  
  During the reporting period, the followi ng communications have been submitted: 
 
  E g y p t       ( G / V A L / N / 2 / E G Y / 1 )  
  Saudi Arabia     (G/VAL/N/2/SAU/1)  (c) Examination of national legislation 
At its meeting of 8 May 2007
, the Committee pursued its examination of various 
communications and impl ementing legislations.  The Committee agreed to conclude the examination of 
the legislation of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Swaziland.  It agreed to revert to 
the examination of the legislations of Egypt, Sa udi Arabian, Tanzania and Thailand at the next 
meeting.       [At the 18 October 2007
 meeting, the Committee concluded the examination of the legislations 
of ...;  the examination of the legislation of … was still underway.  To be updated.]. 
 (d) Information on the application of the Committee Decisions 
 Information on the application of the Decision on the Treatment of Interest Charges in the 
Customs Value of Imported Goods and of paragrap h 2 of the Decision on the Valuation of Carrier 
Media Bearing Software for Data Processing Equipm ent (G/VAL/5), made available by Members, was 
summarized in documents G/VAL/W/5/Rev.18.   
   G/VAL/W/162 
 Page 7 
 
 
  V. AMENDMENTS, INTERPRETATIONS AND RECTIFICATIONS OF THE TEXT OF 
 THE AGREEMENT 
 At its first meeting on 12 May 1995, the Comm ittee adopted the Deci sions relating to the 
interpretation of the Agreement, which had prev iously been adopted by the Tokyo Round Committee 
(G/VAL/M/1, paragraphs 66-67).  The decisions we re reproduced in document G/VAL/5.  No new 
decisions relating to the interpre tation of the Agreement were a dopted during the reporting period. 
 
VI. OTHER DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE 
 At its first meeting on 12 May 1995, the Commit tee adopted other Decisions which had been 
previously adopted by the Tokyo Round Committee.  These Decisions are reproduced in document 
G/VAL/5.  The Committee also adopted Decisions that were referred by the Ministers at Marrakesh to 
the Committee.  The texts of the decisions are c ontained in document G/VAL/1.  During the reporting 
period, no new decisions were adopted by the Committee.    
VII. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
 The committee took note that the WTO Committee on Trade and Development had adopted 
the 2007 technical assistance plan and also noted the need to avoid two parallel and repetitive exercises.  One sub-regional activity for certain Asian countries on customs valuation was carried out 
in September 2007 as provided in the 2007 TA Plan.  One national technical assistance activity was  carried out during the reporting period in Belize.  Another national activity is planned for November 
2007 in Nigeria.  Members were encouraged to c ontinue to inform the Committee of the various 
technical assistance activities carried out by  them on bilateral and other fronts. 
VIII.  REPORTS BY THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS VALUATION 
 At the 8 May meeting, the representativ e of the World Customs Organization (WCO) 
presented a report on the 23
rd and 24th  Sessions of the Technical Committee on Customs Valuation of 
the World Customs Organization (WCO) which was held on 23 -27 October 2006 and on 23 - 27 
April 2007 respectively. 
 
IX. CONSULTATION  AND  DISPUTE  SETTLEMENT 
 During the period under consideration, Pana ma requested consultations with Colombia, 
pursuant to Article 4 of the Understanding on Ru les and Procedures Governing the Settlement of 
Disputes (DSU), Article XXII.1 of the Genera l Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994), 
and Articles 19.1 and 19.2  of the Agreement on Implementation of Article  VII of the General 
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (Agreement on Customs Valuation) with respect to newly 
enacted Colombian customs regulations on the importation of certain goods from Panama.    
(WT/DS366/1, 17 July 2007).  X. ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS  
 [The Committee adopted its annual report to the Council for Trade in Goods in accordance with 
the requirements of Article 23 of the Agreement (G /L/XX).  In addition, th e Committee adopted its 
report to the Council for Trade in Goods on China's Transitional Review.] 
 G/VAL/W/162 
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  ANNEX I
 
 
Information on National Legislation  
  Below are listed the references of the documents
1 containing national laws, regulations etc. and 
replies to the Checklist of I ssues received from Members. 
 
Member 
 National legislation Replies to the Checklist of Issues 
Albania  G/VAL/N/1/ALB/1  
Argentina 
 VAL/1/Add.22 + Suppl. 1-4 + 
Suppl.2/Rev.1 G/VAL/N/1/ARG/1 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.4 
Armenia G/VAL/N/1/ARM/1 G/VAL/N/2/ARM/1 
Australia VAL/1/Add.14 + Suppl.1-4 
G/VAL/N/1/AUS/1 – 2 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.12 + Suppl.1 
Bolivia G/VAL/N/1/BOL/1  
Botswana VAL/1/Add.16 (not not ified under WTO) Not received 
Brazil VAL/1/Add.20 + Suppl.1 
G/VAL/N/1/BRA/ 1, 2, and 3 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.3 
Brunei Darussalam G/VAL/N/1/BRN/1 G/VAL/N/2/BRN/1 
Bulgaria G/VAL/N/1/BGR/1-2 G/VAL/N/2/BGR/1 
Burkina Faso G/VAL/N/1/BFA/1 + Rev.1  
Canada VAL/1/Add.17 + Suppl.1-3 
G/VAL/N/1/CAN/1-2 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.14 
G/VAL/N/2/CAN/1 
Chile G/VAL/N/1/CHL/1  
China G/VAL/N/1/CH N/1, 2, 3 and 4  G/VAL/N/2/CHN/1 
Colombia G/VAL/N/1/COL/1 G/VAL/N/2/COL/1 
Costa Rica G/VAL/N/1/CRI/1 G/VAL/N/2/CRI/1 
Côte d'Ivoire G/VAL/N/1/CVI/1  
Croatia G/VAL/N/1/HRV/1 G/VAL/N/2/HRV/1 
Cuba G/VAL/N/1/CUB/1 G/VAL/N/2/CUB/1 
Dominica G/VAL/N/1/DMA/1  
Dominican Rep G/VAL/N/1/DOM/1  
EEC VAL/1/Add.2 + Suppl.1-13 + Suppl.1 
G/VAL/N/1/EEC/1/Rev.1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.6 
Egypt G/VAL/N/1/EGY/1 G/VAL/N/2/EGY/1 
Fiji G/VAL/N/1/FJI/1-2 G/VAL/N/2/FJI/1 
Former Yugoslav 
Republic of Macedonia  
 G/VAL/N/1/MKD/1  
 G/VAL/N/2/MKD/1 
Gabon G/VAL/N/1/GAB/1  
Georgia G/VAL/N/1/GEO/1  
Guatemala G/VAL/N/1/GTM/1  
Hong Kong China VAL/1/Add.9 
G/VAL/N/1/HKG/1 Not applicable 
Iceland G/VAL/N/1/ISL/1 G/VAL/N/2/ISL/1 
                                                      
1 Documents beginning with "VAL" are documents issued under the Tokyo Round Committee on Customs Valuation.  
  G/VAL/W/162 
 Page 9 
 
 
  Member 
 National legislation Replies to the Checklist of Issues 
India VAL/1/Add.24 + Suppl.1 
G/VAL/N/1/IND/1, 2, and 3 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.6 
G/VAL/N/2/IND/1 + Corr.1 
Indonesia G/VAL/N/ IDN/1 G/VAL/N/2/IDN/1+Corr.1 
Israel G/VAL/N/1/ISR/1+Corr.1  
Jamaica G/VAL/N/1/JAM/1 G/VAL/N/2/JAM/1 
Japan VAL/1/Add.7 
G/VAL/N/1/JPN/1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.8 
G/VAL/N/2/JPN/1 
Jordan G/VAL/N/1/JOR/1 G/VAL/N/2/JOR/1 
Kenya G/VAL/N/1KEN/1 G/VAL/N/2/KEN/1 
Korea, Rep. of VAL/1/Add.19 + Suppl.1-4+ 
Suppl.2/Corr.1-2 + Suppl.3/Corr.1 G/VAL/N/1/KOR/1-2 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.1 + Suppl.1 
Kyrgyz Rep G/VAL/N/1/KGZ/1 G/VAL/N/2/KGZ/1 
Lesotho VAL/1/Add.21 + Suppl.1 (not notified 
under WTO) VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.2 
Liechtenstein G/VAL/N/1/ LIE/1 Not applicable 
Macao G/VAL/N/1/MAC/1 Not applicable 
Madagascar G/VAL/N/1/MDG/1  
Malawi VAL/1/Add.27  
G/VAL/N/1/MWI/1  
Malaysia G/VAL/N/1/MYS/1 G/VAL/N/2/MYS/1 
Mauritius G/VAL/N/MUS/1 G/VAL/N/2/MUS/1 
Mexico VAL/1/Add.25 + Suppl.1-3 
+ Suppl.1/Rev.1 (not notified under WTO) G/VAL/N/1/MEX/1/Rev.1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.10 
VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.8 G/VAL/N/2/MEX/1 + Corr.1 
Moldova G/VAL/N/1/MD A/1 G/VAL/N/2/MDA/1 
Morocco G/VAL/N/1/ MAR/1/Rev.1+Corr.1 
G/VAL/N/1/MAR/2 G/VAL/N/2/MAR/1-2 
Mozambique G/VAL/N/1/MOZ/1  
Namibia G/VAL/N/1/NAM/1  
New Zealand VAL/1/Add.12 + Suppl.1 
G/VAL/N/1/NZL/1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.10 
Norway VAL/1/Add.11 +Corr.1 + Suppl.1-2 
G/VAL/N/1/NOR/1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.7 
Oman G/VAL/N/1/OMN/1  
Pakistan G/VAL/N/1/PAK/1  
Panama G/VAL/N/1/PAN/1 G/VAL/N/2/PAN/1 
Paraguay G/VAL/N/1/PRY/1  
Peru G/VAL/N/1/PER/1 - 3  
Philippines G/VAL/N/1/PHI/1 G/VAL/N/2/PHL/1 
Qatar G/VAL/N/1/QAT/1 G/VAL/N/2/QAT/1 
Romania VAL/1/Add.8 +  Suppl.1-2 
G/VAL/N/1/ROM/1-2 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.9 
Saudi Arabia G/VAL/N/1/SAU/1 G/VAL/N/2/SAU/1 
Senegal G/VAL/N/1/SEN/1  
Singapore G/VAL/N/1/SG P/1 G/VAL/N/2/SGP/1 
South Africa VAL/1/Add.15  + Corr.1 + Suppl.1-3 
G/VAL/N/1/ZAF/1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.13 
Suriname G/VAL/N/1/SUR/1  G/VAL/W/162 
Page 10  
 
  Member 
 National legislation Replies to the Checklist of Issues 
Swaziland G/VAL/N/1/SWZ/1 G/VAL/N/2/SWZ/1 
Switzerland VAL/1/Add.5  
G/VAL/N/1/CHE/1 Not applicable 
Taipei, Chinese G/VAL/N/1/TPKM/1 G/VAL/N/2/TPKM/1-2 
Tanzania G/VAL/N/1/TZA/1 G/VAL/N/2/TZA/1 
Thailand G/VAL/N/1/THA/1 G/VAL/N/2/THA/1 
Trinidad and 
Tobago G/VAL/N/1/TTO/1 G/VAL/N/2/TTO/1 
Tunisia G/VAL/N/1/TUN/1  
Turkey VAL/1/Add.29 
G/VAL/N/1/TUR/1-2 G/VAL/N/2/TUR/1 
Uganda G/VAL/N/1/UGA/1  
United States VAL/1/Add.1 +  Suppl.1-5 
G/VAL/N/1/USA/1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.1 
Uruguay G/VAL/N/1/URY/1 G/VAL/N/2/URY/1 
Venezuela G/VAL/N/1/VEN/1 G/VAL/N/2/VEN/1 
Zambia G/VAL/N/1/ZMB/1  
Zimbabwe VAL/1/Add.23 
G/VAL/N/1/ZWE/1 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.5 
 
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