WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/VAL/W/156 
27 September 2006 
 
 (06-4593) 
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
 
   This working document is circulated by the Secr etariat in preparation for the twelfth 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 6 October 2006.  As indicated in the text 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/156 
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)............................................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 .....................................................6  
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/156 
 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 
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) (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)
1  
 None. 
 (v) Annex III, paragraph 3 (reservation concerning reversal of sequential order of Articles 5 
and 6) (53) 
Argentina
2 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 Zimbabwe
2 
   
 
                                                      
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/156 
 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 (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)
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 Apr il 2005)  Mr Jooha Woo (Korea) 
 Chairman (elected in April 2006)  Ms. Diana Reaich  (New Zealand) 
  
                                                     
 
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/156 
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 chaire d by Mr. Jooha Woo (Korea);  [and the meeting on 6 October 
(G/VAL/M/42 – to be issued) 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, no communica tions and texts have been submitted. 
 (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 Committee pursued it s 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 the next meeting.      
 [At the 6 October 2006
 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 
 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. 
 
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/W/156 
 Page 7 
 
 
  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 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.  Members were encouraged to continue to inform 
the Committee of the various techni cal assistance activities carried out by them on bilateral and other 
fronts. 
VIII.  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 22
nd Session of the Technical Committee on Customs Valuation of the 
World Customs Organization (WCO) which was held from 3 to 7 April 2006. 
 
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 certain 
Colombian customs measures on the importation of certain goods from Panama (WT/DS348/1).  
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/156 
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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 
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 
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 
                                                      
1 Documents beginning with "VAL" are documents issued under the Tokyo Round Committee on Customs Valuation.  
  G/VAL/W/156 
 Page 9 
 
 
  Member 
 National legislation Replies to the Checklist of Issues 
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 
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 
Switzerland VAL/1/Add.5  
G/VAL/N/1/CHE/1 Not applicable G/VAL/W/156 
Page 10  
 
  Member 
 National legislation Replies to the Checklist of Issues 
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/1-2 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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