WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/VAL/W/171 
7 October 2008 
 
 (08-4768) 
Committee on Customs Valuation  
  
 
FOURTEENTH 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 fourteenth 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 17 October 2008.  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/171 
Page 2  
 
   The contents of this document are as follows: 
  Page
 
I. MEMBERS, DELAYED APPLICATIONS, RESERVATIONS AND 
OBSERVER STATUS..............................................................................................................3  
(a) WTO Members (153).............................................................................................................. ....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)..............................................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  
ANNEX I........................................................................................................................ .........................8  
  G/VAL/W/171 
 Page 3 
 
 
  I. MEMBERS, DELAYED APPLICATIONS, RESERVATIONS AND OBSERVER 
STATUS 
(a) WTO Members (153) 
Albania Georgia Nigeria 
Angola Germany Norway 
Antigua and Barbuda Ghana Oman Argentina Greece Pakistan 
Armenia Grenada Panama 
Australia Guatemala Papua New Guinea Austria Guinea Bissau Paraguay 
Bahrain Guinea, Rep. of Peru 
Bangladesh Guyana Philippines Barbados Haiti Poland 
Belgium Honduras Portugal 
Belize Hong Kong, China Qatar Benin Hungary Romania 
Bolivia Iceland Rwanda 
Botswana India Saint Kitts and Nevis 
Brazil Indonesia Saint Lucia 
Brunei Darussalam Ireland Saint Vincent & Grenadine Bulgaria Israel Saudi Arabia 
Burkina Faso Italy Senegal 
Burundi Jamaica Sierra Leone Cambodia Japan Singapore 
Cameroon 
Canada Jordan 
Kenya Slovak Republic 
Slovenia 
Cape Verde Korea Solomon Islands 
Central African Republic Kuwait South Africa 
Chad Kyrgyz Republic Spain Chile Latvia Sri Lanka 
China Lesotho Suriname 
Colombia Liechtenstein Swaziland Congo Lithuania Sweden 
Congo, Democratic Rep. of the  Luxembourg Switzerland 
Costa Rica Macao, Chin a Chinese Taipei 
Côte d'Ivoire Madagascar Tanzania 
Croatia Malawi Thailand 
Cuba Malaysia Togo 
Cyprus Maldives Tonga 
Czech Republic Mali Trinidad and Tobago Denmark Malta Tunisia 
Djibouti Mauritania Turkey 
Dominica Mauritius Uganda Dominican Republic Mexico Ukraine 
Ecuador Moldova United Arab Emirates 
Egypt Mongolia United Kingdom El Salvador Morocco United States 
Estonia Mozambique Uruguay 
European Community Myanmar Ven ezuela, The Bolivarian Rep. of 
Fiji Namibia Viet Nam 
Finland Nepal Zambia 
Former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia Netherlands Zimbabwe France New Zealand  
Gabon Nicaragua  
The Gambia Niger  G/VAL/W/171 
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/171 
 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 Liberia 
Azerbaijan Libya Bahamas Montenegro Belarus Russian Federation Bhutan Samoa 
Bosnia and Herzegovina Sao Tome and Principe 
Comoros Serbia  Equatorial Guinea Seychelles Ethiopia Sudan Holy See Tajikistan 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 2008)   Ms Octavia Cherchez (Romania) 
 
                                                      
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/171 
Page 6  
 
  III. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE 
 During the reporting period, the Committee has held two formal meetings.  The meetings on 
6 May (G/VAL/M/45) and on 17 October (G/VAL/M/ 46, to be issued) were chaired by Mr. Joe 
McClintock (United Kingdom) and Ms. Octavi a Cherchez (Romania) respectively.   
 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: 
   B e l i z e       ( G / V A L / N / 1 / B L Z / 1 )  
  C h i n a       ( G / V A L / N / 1 / C H N / 5 )  
  Kuwait      (G/VAL/N/1/KWT/1)   N i g e r i a       ( G / V A L / N / 1 / N G A / 1 )    O m a n       ( G / V A L / N / 1 / O M N / 2 )    U k r a i n e       ( G / V A L / N / 1 / U K R / 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: 
 
  A l b a n i a       ( G / V A L / N / 2 / A L B / 1 )    B a h r a i n       ( G / V A L / N / 2 / B H R / 1 )    B e l i z e       ( G / V A L / N / 2 / B L Z / 1 )    N i g e r i a       ( G / V A L / N / 2 / N G A / 1 )    O m a n       ( G / V A L / N / 2 / O M N / 1 )  
  U k r a i n e       ( G / V A L / N / 2 / U K R / 1 )  
 (c) Examination of national legislation 
At its meeting of 6 May 2008
, the Committee pursued its examination of various 
communications and impl ementing legislations.  The Committee agreed to conclude the examination of 
the legislation of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.  It agreed  to revert to the examination of the legislations 
of Albania, Bahrain, China, Egypt, Tanzania and Thailand at the next meeting.       [At the 17 October 2008
 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  G/VAL/W/171 
 Page 7 
 
 
  Media Bearing Software for Data Processing Equipm ent (G/VAL/5), made available by Members, was 
summarized in documents G/VA L/W/5/Rev.19 and Rev.20.   
  
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 2008 technical assistance plan.  One national technical assistance activity was carried out during the reporting period in Zimbabwe.  Members were en couraged to continue to inform the Committee 
of the various technical assistance activities carri ed out by them on bilateral and other fronts. 
VIII.  REPORTS BY THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS VALUATION 
 At the 6 May meeting, the representativ e of the World Customs Organization (WCO) 
presented a report on the 25
th and 26th  Sessions of the Technical Co mmittee on Customs Valuation of 
the World Customs Organization (WCO) which were held on 22 -25 October 2007 and on 31 March - 
4 April 2008 respectively. 
 
IX. CONSULTATION  AND  DISPUTE  SETTLEMENT 
 On 22 October 2007, the Dispute Settlemen t Body (DSB) established the Panel on Colombia 
– Indicative Prices and Restrictions on Ports of Entry  (WT/DS366) which was composed on 
8 February 2008.  On 15 September 2008, the Chai rman of the DSB, in accordance with Article 12.9 
of the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU),  circulated a communication from the Panel 
explaining that it would not be able to complete its work within the foreseen timeframe, and that it 
expected to issue its final report to th e parties to the dispute early in 2009. 
 
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/171 
Page 8  
 
  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 G/VAL/N/2/ALB/1 
Argentina  G/VAL/1/Add.22+Suppl. 1-4+Suppl.2/Rev.1 
G/VAL/N/1/ARG/1 G/VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.4 
Armenia G/VAL/N/1/ARM/1 G/VAL/N/2/ARM/1 
Australia G/VAL/1/ Add.14 + Suppl.1-4 
G/VAL/N/1/AUS/1 – 2 G/VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.12 + 
Suppl.1 
Bahrain  G/VAL/N/2/BHR/1 
Belize G/VAL/N/1/BLZ/1 G/VAL/N/2/BLZ/1 
Bolivia G/VAL/N/1/BOL/1  
Botswana G/VAL/1/Add.16 (not no tified under WTO) Not received 
Brazil G/VAL/1/Ad d.20 + Suppl.1 
G/VAL/N/1/BRA/ 1, 2, and 3 G/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 G/VAL/1/Add.17 + Suppl.1-3 
G/VAL/N/1/CAN/1-2 G/VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.14 
G/VAL/N/2/CAN/1 
Chile G/VAL/N/1/CHL/1  
China G/VAL/N/1/CHN/ 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5  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 G/VAL/1/Add.2 + Suppl.1-13 + Suppl.1 
G/VAL/N/1/EEC/1/Rev.1 G/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 G/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/171 
 Page 9 
 
 
  Member National legislation Replies to the Checklist of 
Issues 
India G/VAL/1/Add.24 + Suppl.1 
G/VAL/N/1/IND/1, 2, and 3 G/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 G/VAL/1/Add.7 
G/VAL/N/1/JPN/1 G/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 G/VAL/ 1/Add.19 + Suppl.1-4+ 
Suppl.2/Corr.1-2 + Suppl.3/Corr.1 G/VAL/N/1/KOR/1-2 G/VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.1 + Suppl.1 
Kuwait G/VAL/N/1/KWT/1  
Kyrgyz Rep G/VAL/N/1/KGZ/1 G/VAL/N/2/KGZ/1 
Lesotho G/VAL/1/Add.21 + Suppl.1  
(not notified under WTO) G/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 G/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 G/VAL/1/Ad d.25 + Suppl.1-3 
+ Suppl.1/Rev.1 (not notified under WTO) 
G/VAL/N/1/MEX/1/Rev.1 G/VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.10 
G/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 G/VAL/ 1/Add.12 + Suppl.1 
G/VAL/N/1/NZL/1 G/VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.10 
Nigeria G/VAL/N/1/NGR/1 G/VAL/N/2/NGR/1 
Norway G/VAL/1/Add.11 +Corr.1 + Suppl.1-2 
G/VAL/N/1/NOR/1 G/VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.7 
Oman G/VAL/N/1/OMN/1, 2 G/VAL/N/2/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 G/VAL/1/Add.8 +  Suppl.1-2 
G/VAL/N/1/ROM/1-2 G/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 G/VAL/W/171 
Page 10  
 
  Member National legislation Replies to the Checklist of 
Issues 
South Africa G/VAL/1/Add. 15 + Corr.1 + Suppl.1-3 
G/VAL/N/1/ZAF/1 G/VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.13 
Suriname G/VAL/N/1/SUR/1  
Swaziland G/VAL/N/1/SWZ/1 G/VAL/N/2/SWZ/1 
Switzerland G/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 G/VAL/1/Add.29 
G/VAL/N/1/TUR/1-2 G/VAL/N/2/TUR/1 
Uganda G/VAL/N/1/UGA/1  
Ukraine G/VAL/N/1/UKR/1 G/VAL/N/2/UKR/1 
United States G/VAL/1/Add.1 +  Suppl.1-5 
G/VAL/N/1/USA/1 G/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 G/VAL/1/Add.23 
G/VAL/N/1/ZWE/1 G/VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.5 
 
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