WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/VAL/W/156/Rev.1 
15 October 2009 
 (09-5057) 
Committee on Customs Valuation  
  
 
TWELFTH 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
 
 
Revision  
  
 This revised working document is circulated by the Secretariat in preparation for the completion 
of the twelfth annual review of the implementati on and operation of the Agre ement on Implementation 
of Article VII of the General Agre ement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (the  Agreement).  This review was 
suspended at the Committee's meeting on 6 October 2006.  This revision is an  updated version of the 
twelfth review to include the work of th e 6 October 2006 meeting of the Committee. 
 
 
_______________ 
 
  
 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/156/Rev.1 
Page 2  
 
   The contents of this document are as follows: 
  Page
 
I. MEMBERS, DELAYED APPLICATIONS, RESERVATIONS AND 
OBSERVER STATUS..............................................................................................................3  
(a) WTO Members (149).............................................................................................................. ....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) (2) ......................................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 (32)...................................................................................................... ..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 .............................................................................................6  
VI. OTHER DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE .....................................................7  
VII. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ..................................................................................................7  
VIII.  ISSUES RELATED TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT .........................7  
IX. PRESHIPMENT INSPECTION .............................................................................................7  
X. REPORTS BY THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS VALUATION ...................................................................................................................... ......7
 
XI. CONSULTATION AND DISPUTE SETTLEMENT............................................................7  
XII. ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COUNCIL  FOR TRADE IN GOODS.................................7  
  G/VAL/W/156/Rev.1 
 Page 3 
 
 
  I. MEMBERS, DELAYED APPLICATIONS, RESERVATIONS AND OBSERVER 
STATUS 
(a) WTO Members (149) 
Albania The Gambia New Zealand 
Angola Georgia Nicaragua 
Antigua and Barbuda Germany Niger Argentina Ghana Nigeria 
Armenia Greece Norway 
Australia Grenada Oman Austria Guatemala Pakistan 
Bahrain Guinea Bissau Papua New Guinea 
Bangladesh Guinea, Rep. of Paraguay Barbados Guyana Peru 
Belgium Haiti Philippines 
Belize Honduras Poland Benin Hong Kong, China Portugal 
Bolivia Hungary Qatar 
Botswana Iceland Romania 
Brazil India Rwanda 
Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Saint Kitts and Nevis Bulgaria Ireland Saint Lucia 
Burkina Faso Israel Sa int Vincent & Grenadine 
Burundi Italy Saudi Arabia Cambodia Jamaica Senegal 
Cameroon Japan Sierra Leone 
Canada Central African Republic Jordan 
Kenya Singapore 
Slovak Republic 
Chad Korea Slovenia 
Chile Kuwait Solomon Islands China Kyrgyz Republic South Africa 
Colombia Latvia Spain 
Congo Lesotho Sri Lanka Congo, Democratic Rep. of the  Liechtenstein Suriname 
Costa Rica Lithuania Swaziland 
Côte d'Ivoire Luxembourg Sweden Croatia Macao, China Switzerland 
Cuba Madagascar Chinese Taipei 
Cyprus Malawi Tanzania 
Czech Republic Malaysia Thailand 
Denmark Maldives Togo Djibouti Mali Trinidad and Tobago 
Dominica Malta Tunisia 
Dominican Republic Mauritania Turkey Ecuador Mauritius Uganda 
Egypt Mexico Unite d Arab Emirates 
El Salvador Moldova United Kingdom Estonia Mongolia United States 
European Community Morocco Uruguay 
Fiji Mozambique Venezuela, The Bolivarian Rep. of Finland Myanmar Zambia 
Former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia Namibia Zimbabwe 
France Nepal  Gabon Netherlands  G/VAL/W/156/Rev.1 
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 31 December 2006.  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) (1) 
 United Arab Emirates 
 (iii) Annex III, paragraph 1 (extension of the five-year delay period)  
None. 
(iv) Annex III, paragraph 2 (reservation concerning minimum values) (2)  
Senegal (WT/L/655) 
Sri Lanka (G/VAL/58) 
 
(v) Annex III, paragraph 3 (reservation concerning reversal of sequential order of Articles 5 
and 6) (53) 
Argentina
1 Guatemala Niger 
Bahrain Guyana Pakistan Bangladesh Haiti Panama 
Benin Honduras Peru
1 
Brazil2 India1 Philippines 
Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Senegal Burkina Faso Israel Sri Lanka Cameroon Jamaica Thailand 
Chile Kenya Togo 
Colombia Madagascar Tunisia Costa Rica Malawi
1 Turkey1 
Côte d'Ivoire Malaysia Uganda Djibouti Maldives United Arab Emirates Dominican Republic Mali Uruguay 
Ecuador Mexico
1 Venezuela, The  
Egypt Morocco1   Bolivarian Rep. of   
El Salvador Myanmar Zambia Gabon Nicaragua Zimbabwe
1 
   
 
                                                      
1 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/156/Rev.1 
 Page 5 
 
 
  (vi) Annex III, paragraph 4 (reservation to apply Article 5.2 whether or not the importer so 
requests) (51) 
Argentina1 Ecuador Malaysia Sri Lanka 
Bahrain Egypt Malawi Thailand Bangladesh El Salvador Maldives Togo 
Benin Gabon Mali Tunisia 
Brazil
1 Guatemala Mexico1 Turkey1 
Brunei Darussalam Guyana Morocco1 Uruguay 
Burkina Faso Haiti Myanmar Venezuela, The  Cameroon Honduras Nicaragua   Bolivarian Rep. of 
Chile India
1 Niger Zambia 
Colombia Indonesia Nigeria Zimbabwe1 
Costa Rica Israel Pakistan  Côte d'Ivoire Jamaica Peru
1  
Djibouti Kenya Philippines  
Dominican Republic Madagascar Senegal  
    
 (c) Observer Governments (32) 
Afghanistan Lebanon 
Algeria Libya 
Andorra Montenegro 
Azerbaijan Russ ian Federation 
Bahamas Samoa Belarus Sao Tome and Principe Bhutan Serbia  
Bosnia and Herzegovina Seychelles 
Cape Verde Sudan Equatorial Guinea Tajikistan Ethiopia Tonga Holy See Ukraine Iran Uzbekistan 
Iraq Vanuatu 
Kazakhstan Vietnam Laos Yemen   
 
(d) Observer International Organizations (6)
2 
 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 Apr il 2005)  Mr Jooha Woo (Korea) 
 Chairman (elected in April 2006)  Ms. Diana Reaich  (New Zealand) 
  
                                                     
 
2 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/156/Rev.1 
Page 6  
 
  III. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE 
 During the reporting period, the Committee has held two formal meetings.  The meeting on 
25 April (G/VAL/M/41) was chaired by Mr. Jooha  Woo (Korea);  and the meeting on 6 October 
(G/VAL/M/42) was chaired by Ms. Diana Reaich (New Zealand).   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 comm unications and texts have been submitted:   
  Former Yugoslav Republic of  Macedonia (G/VAL/N/1MKD/1) 
 Tanzania (G/VAL/N/1/TZA/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, no communications have been submitted. 
 (c) Examination of national legislation 
At its meeting of 25 April 2006, the Commit tee pursued its examination of various 
communications and impl ementing legislations.  The Committee agreed to conclude the examination of 
the legislation of India and Mexico.  It agreed to  revert to the examination of the legislation of 
Thailand at its next meeting.       At the 6 October 2006 meeting, the Committee ag reed to revert to the examination of the 
legislation of Thailand at its next meeting.    
(d) Information on the application of the Committee Decisions 
 No new information on the application of the Decision on the Treatment of Interest Charges in 
the Customs Value of Imported Goods and of paragr aph 2 of the Decision on the Valuation of Carrier 
Media Bearing Software for Data Processing Equipment (G/VAL/5) wa s received during this reporting 
period.     
  
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. 
  G/VAL/W/156/Rev.1 
 Page 7 
 
 
  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 al so adopted Decisions that were referr ed by the Ministers at Marrakech 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 Committ ee on Trade and Development had adopted 
the 2006 technical assistance plan and also noted the need to avoid two parallel and repetitive 
exercises.  While there were no regional activities planned specifically for customs valuation in the 
2006 Plan, there had been 3 national technical assistance activities carried out during the reporting 
period in Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia.    
VIII.  ISSUES RELATED TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT 
 At the 25 April and 6 October meetings, the Co mmittee took note of the statements made and 
the reports from the Chairman on his informal cons ultations regarding the work in relation to the 
Committee's mandate in paragraph 8. 3 of the Ministerial Decision on Implementation-Related Issues 
and Concerns.     At its 6 October 2006 meeting, the Committee carried out is fifth Transitional Review in 
accordance with paragraph 18 of the Protocol of Accession of the People's Republic of China.  It 
circulated its report to the Council for Trade in Goods in document G/VAL/60.  
IX. PRESHIPMENT INSPECTION 
 At the 6 October meeting, the Committee carri ed out the Second Review of the Agreement on 
Preshipment Inspection.  The report of this  Review is contained in document G/L/809. 
 
X. REPORTS BY THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS VALUATION 
 At the 25 April meeting, the representativ e of the World Customs Organization (WCO) 
presented a report on the 21
st and 22nd Sessions of the Technical Committee on Customs Valuation of 
the World Customs Organization (WCO) which we re held from 17 to 21 October 2005 and 3 to 7 
April 2006, respectively. 
 
XI. CONSULTATION AND DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 
 During the period under consideration, Pana ma requested consultations with Colombia, 
pursuant to, inter alia,  Articles 19.1 and 19.2  of the Agreemen t on Implementation of Article VII of 
the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (Agreement on Custom s Valuation) with respect to 
certain Colombian customs measures on the importati on of certain goods from Panama (G/VAL/D/8). 
Panama communicated the achievement of a mutu ally agreed solution on the above matter in 
document G/VAL/D/8/Add.1 . 
XII. 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 Arti cle 23 of the Agreement (G/L/799 and Corr.1). G/VAL/W/156/Rev.1 
Page 8  
 
   
ANNEX I 
 
Information on National Legislation
 
 
 Below are listed the references of the documents1 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  
G/VAL/N/1/ARG/1 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.4 + 
Suppl.2/Rev.1 
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  and  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 and 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 and 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 
Fiji G/VAL/N/1/FJI/1 and 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/156/Rev.1 
 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 and 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, 2, and  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 and 2 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.9 
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  
Swaziland  G/ VAL/N/2/SWZ/1 G/VAL/W/156/Rev.1 
Page 10  
 
  Member National legislation Replies to the Checklist of Issues 
Switzerland VAL/1/Add.5  
G/VAL/N/1/CHE/1 Not applicable 
Chinese Taipei 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 and 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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