RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/VAL/M/40 
12 December 2005 
 
 (05-5885) 
Committee on Customs Valuation  
  
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 18 OCTOBER  2005 
 
Chairmen: Jooha Woo (Korea)
 
   The agenda proposed for the meeting, circ ulated in WTO/AIR/2687 was adopted as follows: 
 
 
I.
 INFORMATION ON IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF 
THE AGREEMENT.................................................................................................................1  
(i) Notification of national legislation ........................................................................................... ..1 
(ii) Notifications made by Deve loping Country Members ................................................................4  
II. INFORMATION ON THE APPLICATION OF DECISIONS OF THE 
COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS  VALUATION......................................................................5  
III. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ..................................................................................................5  
IV. TRANSITIONAL REVIEW IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 18 OF 
THE PROTOCOL ON THE ACCESSION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF 
CHINA .......................................................................................................................... .............6  
V. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN 
GOODS .......................................................................................................................... ............8  
VI. INDIA - INFORMATION ON CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES VALUATION POLICY.............................................................................8  
VII. FOURTH, FIFTH, SIXTH, SEVENTH, EIGHTH, NINTH, TENTH AND ELEVENTH ANNUAL REVIEWS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION OF THE CUSTOMS VALUATION AGREEMENT ...................................8
 
VIII.  PRESHIPMENT INSPECTION .............................................................................................8  
IX. PARAGRAPH 12 OF THE DOHA MINISTERIAL DECLARATION (WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1):  IMPLEM ENTATION-RELATED ISSUES..................................9
 
X. OTHER BUSINESS................................................................................................................1 0 
 
 
I. INFORMATION ON IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE 
AGREEMENT 
(i) Notification of national legislation 
1.1 The Chairman  recalled that Article 22 of the Agreem ent on Customs Valuation (Agreement) 
required each Member to inform the Committee of any changes in its laws and regulations relevant to 
the Agreement, and of any changes in the administra tion of such laws and regulations.  In addition, 
the Decision on Notification and Circulation of Na tional Legislation, adopted by the Tokyo Round G/VAL/M/40 
Page 2  
 
 Committee, required each Member to notify its legi slation to the Committee.  He suggested that, 
under this sub-item, the Committee take up the legisla tions in sequence as listed in the agenda.  He 
further recalled that the notification of legislati on by the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu had been presented to the Committee.  However, the examination of this 
notification remained suspended since the Co mmittee's meeting on 4-5 November 2002 pending 
resolution of the difference in views between the parties involved on notifications across the WTO.  
He noted his appreciation for the flexibility of the parties involved in allowing the Committee to 
proceed with the examination of other notifications.    
- Armenia 
 
1.2 The Chairman
 recalled that at the last meeting, it was agreed to revert to Armenia's 
notification in documents G/VAL/N/1/ARM/1 and G/ VAL/N/2/ARM/1 at this meeting.  The United 
States had circulated questions to Armenia in  document G/VAL/W/128, to which replies were 
circulated in document G/VAL/W/146. 
 
1.3 The Committee agreed  to conclude the examination of the legislation of Armenia. 
 
- China 
 
1.4 The Chairman  recalled that the Committee agreed to revert at this meeting to China's 
notifications of its national legislation pending any follow-up questions at this meeting.  Questions 
were circulated in documents G/VAL/W/137 and G/VAL/W/145, to which China provided responses 
in documents G/VAL/W/141 and G/VAL/W/147.   1.5 The representative of the United States
 stated that her delegation would agree to conclude the 
examination of this legislation but it would make a statement under the Transitional Review 
Mechanism agenda item which would apply as well to this item.  Her delegation underscored the 
importance it attached to rigorous review of all no tifications.  In accordance with how her delegation 
has been conducting the practice, her delegation considered that under the TRM, it could pose 
questions on the national legislation.    
1.6 The representative of China
 expressed some confusion with the US statement.  Her delegation 
understood that questions related to notification of  national legislation woul d be raised under this 
agenda item.  Of course, any Member could raise questions under the TRM but that did not mean that 
they would also apply to the notification agenda  item.  This was her delegation's understanding in 
order to avoid repetition. 
 
1.7 The Committee took note  of the statements made and agreed  to conclude the examination of 
the legislation of China.  
 - Guatemala 
 1.8 The Chairman
 drew Members' attention to Guatemala's notification of legislation circulated in 
G/VAL/N/1/GTM/1.  This notification contained the Central American Regulations on Customs 
Valuation of Goods, established by the COMIECO Resolution No. 115-2004 of 28 June 2004, which 
put the Agreement into effect in Guatemala.     
 
1.9 The Committee agreed  to conclude the examination of the legislation of Guatemala. 
  G/VAL/M/40 
 Page 3 
 
 
 - India 
 
1.10 The Chairman  recalled that it had been agreed to revert to India's notification in 
G/VAL/N/1/IND/3 which contained certain amendments to the Cust oms Valuation (Determination of 
Price of Imported Goods) Rules 1988.  In addition, I ndia's responses to the Ch ecklist of Issues were 
contained in document G/VAL/N/2/IND/1 and Corr.1.  Oral questions from the European 
Communities and written questions from the United States in document G/VAL/W/128 were submitted. India responses were circulated in doc ument G/VAL/W/133.  The United States had raised 
further questions in document G/VAL/W/139 to which India responded in document G/VAL/W/148.  
 
 
1.11 The representative of the European Communities  indicated that her delegation was still 
studying the responses submitted a nd wished to come back to the matter at the next meeting. 
 1.12 The representative of India considered that the responses had been circulated some time ago 
and therefore did not see the need to retain the ite m on the agenda.  However, his delegation was in 
the hands of the Chair. 
 1.13  The Chairman
 proposed that the Committee take note of  the statements made and revert to 
this agenda item at the next meeting.  Any follow- up questions should be subm itted to the Secretariat 
ten days before the next meeting.  
1.14 It was so agreed
. 
 
- Mexico 
 
1.15 The Chairman  recalled that Mexico had notified its cu stoms legislation which was circulated 
in document G/VAL/N/1/MEX/1. The E nglish translation was in document 
G/VAL/N/1/MEX/1/ REV/1.  These documents contained th e customs laws of 15 December 1995 and 
31 December 1996 and the regulations of 6 July 1996.   Mexico had also submitted its Check List of 
Issues circulated in document G/VAL/N/2/MEX/ 1 and G/VAL/N/2/MEX/1/ Corr.1. The questions 
which the United States had posed about estimated prices and preshipment inspection, and Mexico's replies, were circulated in documents G/VAL/W /129 and  G/VAL/W/132 respectively.  The United 
States’ subsequent questions were c ontained in document G/VAL/W/138.   
 1.16 The representative of Mexico
 informed the Committee that he had recently submitted 
responses to the United States and that he would give a copy to the Secretariat for circulation.    
1.17 The representative of the United States
 confirmed that her delegation had received these 
responses.  It would study them and wished to  revert to this item at the next meeting. 
 1.18 The Chairman
 proposed that the Committee take note of the statement made and revert to this 
item at the next meeting.  Any follow-up questions  should be submitted to the Secretariat ten days 
before the next meeting. 
 
1.19 It was so agreed . 
 
 - Mozambique 
 1.20 The Chairman
 drew Members' attention to Mozambi que's recent notification of national 
legislation circulated in G/VAL/N/1/MOZ/1.  It c ontained the Mozambique legislation relevant to 
customs valuation.    1.21 The Committee agreed
 to conclude the examination of the Mozambique legislation. G/VAL/M/40 
Page 4  
 
  - Peru 
 
1.22 The Chairman
 drew Members' attention to the recent  amendment of Peru's customs valuation 
legislation, circulated in document G/VAL/N/1 /PER/3. This document c ontained Supreme Decrees 
Nos. 098-2002-EF, No. 009-2004-EF, published in th e Official Journal "El Peruano" on 11 June 2002 
and 20 January 2004 which amend Suprem e Decree No. 186-99 of 29 December 1999 
(G/VAL/N/1/PER/2).    1.23 The Committee agreed
 to conclude the examination of the Peruvian legislation.     
  - Qatar 
 
1.24 The Chairman
 drew Members' attention to Qatar's notification of legislation circulated in 
G/VAL/N/1/QAT/1.  This contained the Common  Customs Law of the CGG States Rules of 
Implementation and Explanatory Notes Thereof (2 003).  In addition, Qatar had circulated its 
responses to the Checklist of Issu es in document G/VAL/N/2/QAT/1. 
 1.25 The Committee agreed
 to conclude the examinati on of Qatar's legislation. 
 
- Thailand 
 
1.26 The Chairman  recalled that at the last meeting, Members agreed to revert to Thailand's 
notification in G/VAL/N/1/THA/1 and the responses to  the Checklist of Issues in G/VAL/N/2/THA/1.  
The United States circulated questions to Thaila nd in G/VAL/W/128, and Thailand’s replies were  
circulated in G/VAL/W/130.  Follow-up questions  from the United States were circulated in 
document G/VAL/W/143. 
 
1.27 The representative of Thailand  said that she would contact her capital so as to have replies for 
the next meeting.    1.28 The Chairman
 proposed that the Committee take note of the statement and revert to the 
examination of this legislation at the next meeti ng.  Any follow-up questions should be submitted to 
the Secretariat ten days before the next meeting. 
 1.29 It was so agreed
. 
 
 - Uganda 
 
1.30 The Chairman  drew Members' attention to Uganda's recent notification of its legislation 
circulated in G/VAL/N/1/UGA/1.  This notification contained the Finance Act of 2001 which was the law introducing the WTO Customs Valuation Agreement in Uganda.  1.31 The Committee agreed
 to conclude the examination of Uganda's legislation. 
 
1.32 In concluding this agenda item, the Chairman  urged those Members which had not yet 
notified their implementing legislation to do so as soon as possible.  
(ii) Notifications made by De veloping Country Members 
1.33 The Chairman
 drew Member's attention to document  G/VAL/2/Rev.21 which contained the 
updated lists of all Members who had invoked special and differentia l treatment provisions under the 
Agreement.  In addition, he drew their attenti on to document G/VAL/W/76/Add.10 which contained an  G/VAL/M/40 
 Page 5 
 
 
 updated list of the active agreed extensions for the delay of the application of the Agreement or 
reservations to maintain a system of minimum values.    1.34 The representative of Canada
 noted that Sri Lanka had an outstanding reporting requirement 
that was listed in document G/VAL/W/76/Add.10.  His delegation looked forward to seeing this 
report as soon as possible. 
 1.35 The representatives of the United States
, the European Communities , and Switzerland  
supported Canada's statement.  
1.36 The Chairman
 proposed that the Committee take note  of the statements made and of the 
information contained in these two documents.  1.37 It was so agreed
. 
  - Notifications made under Committee Deci sions on extensions or minimum values 
 
1.38 The Chairman
 noted that under this sub-item, the Commi ttee was to consider the notifications 
made under the Decisions concerning delay extensio ns and minimum value reservations.  Senegal had 
circulated a progress report on its Article IX waiver for the use of minimum values.  This report was also considered by the Council for Trade in Goods where, he noted, that Senegal had requested an extension 
of this Article IX waiver for minimum values.  He proposed that  the Committee take note of this 
information.  1.39 It was so agreed
. 
 II. INFORMATION ON THE APPLICATION OF DECISIONS OF THE COMMITTEE 
ON CUSTOMS VALUATION 
2.1 The Chairman
 informed the Committee that under this agenda item, the Committee noted any 
new notifications of applicati on of the Decisions of the Comm ittee on Customs Valuation on the 
Treatment of Interest Charges in the Customs Value of  Imported Goods' and on the 'Valuation of Carrier 
Media Bearing Software for Data Processing Equipment', both adopted by the Committee and contained 
in document G/VAL/5.  Israel notified its ap plication of these two Decisions in document 
G/VAL/N/3/ISR/1.  Docume nt G/VAL/W/5/Rev.17 had be en updated to include this notification.  He 
suggested that the Committee ta ke note of this information.  
 
2.2  The Committee took note  of this information. 
 
III. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
 - Information on Technical Assistance 
 
3.1 The Chairman  explained that under this item the Secretariat usually informed Members of the 
technical assistance activities carried out under th e auspices of the WCO.  Document G/VAL/8/Add.15 
contained the most recent information, reported at the 19th Session of the Technical Committee, on 
technical assistance activities carried out by the WCO Secretariat or WCO Members.  3.2 The Committee took note
 of the information. 
 G/VAL/M/40 
Page 6  
 
  - Article 20.3 Technical Assistance and Trade-Related Technical Assistance 
 
3.3. The Chairman
 informed Members that the Commi ttee’s Work Programme on Technical 
Assistance for Capacity Building as Regards the Implementation and Administration of the WTO 
Agreement on Customs Valuation was contained in  document G/VAL/W/82/Rev.1.   The Committee 
noted previously that customs valuation technical assistance was now incorporated in the WTO-wide 
technical assistance program which had been designed to streamline technical assistance requests into 
one annual plan.  It was noted that basing the Co mmittee's TA work on the WTO-wide plan avoided 
having two parallel and repetitive exercises.   
3.4 The Committee on Trade and Development, at its  meeting of 5 October 2005, adopted the TA 
Plan 2006 circulated in document WT/COMTD/W/142.  In this Plan, there were no regional activities 
planned specifically for customs valuation.  Re quests for technical assistance on customs valuation 
could be made at any time by individual Members a nd would be met by a national activity designed to 
meet the needs of the recipient.  He added that Members were encouraged to inform the Committee of 
technical assistance and capacity building activities that they were providing on bilateral or other 
fronts.  The Committee had not received any notifications of new activities.  He looked forward to receiving them, either orally or in writing under this  agenda item, in due course. He proposed that the 
Committee take note of this information.  3.5 The Committee took note
 of the information. 
 
IV. TRANSITIONAL REVIEW IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 18 OF THE 
PROTOCOL ON THE ACCESSION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 
4.1 The Chairman  recalled that in accordance with paragra ph 18 of the Protocol of Accession of 
the People's Republic of China, the Committee was to  report to the Council for Trade in Goods on the 
outcome of this Review, which will then report to  the General Council.  The Committee conducted its 
third Transitional Review in 2004, where China explained the implementation of its commitments 
with regard to the Agreement on Customs Valuati on and responded to the questions raised.  He 
reminded Members that China was content to cr oss-reference between No tification of National 
Legislation and this item (TRM) so as to avoid dup lication of work and to avoid repeating earlier 
questions or answers.  He further noted that Ch ina had recently submitted an informational document 
after the agenda had been circulated.  This in formation was contained in document G/VAL/W/151. 
 
4.2 The representative of China  stated that his  delegation had submitted the information in 
G/VAL/W/151 on valuation matters pursuant to Annex IA  of China's accession protocol.  It offered a 
comprehensive overview of China’s  implementation e fforts.  However, he  reiterated that customs 
valuation-related legislation in China, inter alia,  the Regulations on Import and Export Tariffs which 
entered into force on 1 January 2004, were in full conformity with the relevant provisions governing 
the procedure and methodologies of valuation set forth in the Customs Valuation Agreement of the WTO. Further information on customs valuation ma tters was also availabl e through the official 
website of China Customs General Administratio n at www.customs.gov.cn.  China was willing to 
continue the exchange with Members on issues of common interest in this Committee.  He expressed 
his appreciation to the Chairman and the Secretaria t for the efficient work in preparing this session. 
 4.3 The representative of the United States
 stated that his delegation considered that the 
transitional review remained an important and usef ul mechanism, serving both the interests of China 
and the interests of other WTO Members, particular ly in those areas where China continued to phase 
in its commitments.  It provided Members with the opportunity to seek clarifications regarding 
China's policies and practices.  It also allowed Me mbers to convey to China their expectations with 
regard to China's efforts to implement its co mmitments.  For China, in turn, it provided the 
opportunity to clarify its policies and practices, w ith the potential to prevent misunderstandings that  G/VAL/M/40 
 Page 7 
 
 
 could lead to trade frictions. In other words, the TRM promoted the fundamental principle of 
transparency that underlay the WTO Agreement.   4.4 He noted that the US did not submit any writte n questions for China as part of this year's 
transitional review.  However, the US would like to make a statement regarding China's 
implementation efforts.  The US had been trying to gain a better understanding of China's regulatory 
measures, including the Rules Regarding Determination on Customs Valuation of Imported and 
Exported Goods ( G/VAL/N/1/CHN/1), issued by the General Administration of Customs in 
December 2001, and the Regulations Regarding Determination on Customs Value of Royalties and 
License Fees Related to the Imported Goods (G/VAL/N/1/CHN/3), issued by the General 
Administration of Customs in May 2003.  During the past year, the US continued to seek 
clarifications about this legislation in meeti ngs of the Customs Valuation Committee, and his 
delegation appreciated the responses that it had r eceived from China.  It also appreciated the 
information submitted in G/VAL/W/151 which it had not had time to review yet.   
 
4.5 The US had also been concerned about the implementation of the above measures by China's 
customs personnel.  During meetings of the Commi ttee over the past year, th e US raised concerns 
about two types of practices that US exporters con tinued to encounter at many ports.  First, even 
though China's regulatory measures provided that im ported goods normally should be valued on the 
basis of their transaction price, meaning the price the importer actually paid, Chinese customs 
officials were reportedly in some cases still imprope rly using "reference pricing", usually resulting in 
a higher dutiable value.  His delegation would review the new information in G/VAL/W/151 as it 
pertained to transactions pricing and valuation methods.  Second, some of China's customs officials 
were reportedly not applying the provision in the 200 2 regulations on conditions of sale as it related to 
software.  These officials were still following Ch ina's pre-WTO accession practice of automatically 
adding royalty and software fees to the dutiable va lue, even though China's new regulations directed 
them to add those fees only if they were paid to  the exporter as a condition of the particular sale in 
question.  4.6 His delegation urged China to continue to  work to establish more uniformity in the 
administration of its customs valuation regime and in  its adherence to WTO customs valuation rules.  
One final concern involved imports of high-value elec tronic media that were intended to be used after 
importation to produce multiple copies of products such as DVDs for wide distribution and sale.  
China's customs officials had been assessing duties based on the estimated value of the 
yet-to-be-produced copies. The US urged China to follow the same principle that applied to carrier 
media bearing software and instead assess duties b ased on the value of the underlying carrier medium. 
 
4.7 The representative of China
 said that her delegation did not recall any agreements or 
consensus that would allow statements or written questions submitted under this agenda item to be 
automatically applied to the notification agenda item or vice-versa.  China believed that it would not 
be appropriate to mix two agenda items given their different nature  and practice. Furthermore China 
also urged Members not to repeat their questions under different agenda items for the sake of time 
constraint and resources.  China's understanding in this Committee was that it was not necessary to  
repeat what had been discussed at previous meet ings.  One of the concerns raised by the US 
concerning the Chinese valuation system was alrea dy answered in the information circulated in 
G/VAL/W/151.  The other concerns were also fully answered in document G/VAL/W/147 which 
were the responses from China to questions posed  by the US under the notification of national 
legislation item.  Her delegation did not wish to repeatedly discuss the same questions under different 
agenda items.  
 4.8 The Chairman proposed
 that the Committee take note of the statements made and that the 
Secretariat prepare a short factual report, under his responsibility, referring to the minutes of the 
meeting for further detail, to be sent to the CTG.  G/VAL/M/40 
Page 8  
 
 4.9 The Committee so agreed
 and the TRM was concluded . 
 
V. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS 
5.1 The Chairman  drew Members' attention to document G/VAL/W/149 which contained the 
draft report of the Committee to the Council for Trade in Goods.  He asked Members for any 
comments they had on the draft report. 
 5.2 The Chairman
 proposed that the Secretariat update the report to take into account this meeting 
and submit it to the Council for Trade in Goods.  
5.3 It was so agreed
. 
 
VI. INDIA - INFORMATION ON CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES VALUATION POLICY 
6.1 The Chairman  recalled that at the last meeting of the Committee, it was agreed to revert to this 
item, pending reactions and further follow-up questions from  Brazil and India, to the replies from the 
European Communities which were circulated in docume nt G/VAL/W/131.  The se responses were to 
questions initially posed by Brazil in document G/VAL/ W/122.  At the last meetin g, Brazil made an oral 
statement reacting to the replies from the EC.  The EC, in turn, had res ponded to this statement.  It was 
agreed that both parties would circulate their st atements in writing, although neither had done so.   
 
6.2 In the absence of questions or statements, th e Chairman noted that this item had been on the 
agenda of the Committee's meetings for almost five years.  there had been several exchanges of questions and answers both with the de legation of India as well as with th e delegation of Brazil.  At this 
stage, and given the lack of follo w-up from the last meeting and the lack of substantive exchange of 
views at this meeting, he proposed that the parties consult bilaterally outsi de of the Committee and that 
the item be removed from the agenda.   
 6.3 It was so agreed
. 
 
VII. FOURTH, FIFTH, SIXTH, SEVENTH, EIGHTH, NINTH, TENTH AND ELEVENTH 
ANNUAL REVIEWS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION OF THE CUSTOMS 
VALUATION AGREEMENT 
7.1 The Chairman  recalled that, at its last meeting, th e Committee took note of the Fourth through 
Tenth Annual Reviews contained in documen ts G/VAL/W/29, G/VA L/W/43, G/VAL/W/77, 
G/VAL/W/89, G/VAL/W/109,  G/VAL/W/124 and G/VAL/W/136.  To day, the eleventh review was 
added to the list which had been circulated in docu ment G/VAL/W/150.  India stated that her capital 
was carefully reviewing this matter.  It had been agreed to revert to this item at this meeting.   
 7.2 The representative of India
 informed Members that her delegation was still examining this 
matter and hoped to reply to the Committee by the next meeting.  7.3 The Committee took note
 of the statement made and agreed  to revert to this matter at its next 
meeting.   
 
VIII. PRESHIPMENT INSPECTION 
8.1 The Chairman  reminded Members that, according to Article 6 of the Agreement on PSI, the 
Ministerial Conference was obliged to review the provisions , implementation and operation of the 
Agreement "at the end of the second year from the da te of entry into force of the WTO Agreement and  G/VAL/M/40 
 Page 9 
 
 
 every three years thereafter…"  The first review had been carrie d out from 1996 through 1999. He asked 
the Committee to consider, for discussion, two questions:  whether it was desirable to carry out a second review of the Agreement, given th e obligation under the Agreement and the fact that a second review 
called for every three years therea fter was overdue;  and secondly if a review was desirable, in which 
body of the WTO should this review be conducted.  He further recalled  that, in reply to a question from 
the United States  at a previous meeting about whether this Committee had a mandate to carry out this 
Review, it was noted that one of th e recommendations of the Working Pa rty was that "future monitoring 
of the Agreement [on PSI] should be undertaken initi ally by the Customs Valuat ion Committee, and that 
PSI should be a standing agenda item.".  This  recommendation was subsequently endorsed by the 
General Council.  At its last meeting, he had enc ouraged delegations to read the relevant background 
documentation and to submit ideas to the Secretariat for circulation.  None had been received.   He also 
mentioned, for the information of the Committee, that the Independent Entity, established pursuant to 
Article 4 of the Agreement on Preshipment Inspection had received its first case for Review.  This 
Review was on-going and for the firs t time was putting into effect the general Council Decision of 
13 December 1995 establishing the Independent Entity. 
 
8.2 The representative of the United States
 noted that her delegation continued to believe that the 
Review should be carried out it in this Committee.    8.3 The Committee took note
 of the information and the statement and agreed  to revert to this 
matter at its next meeting. 
 
IX. PARAGRAPH 12 OF THE DOHA MINISTERIAL DECLARATION 
(WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1):  IMPLEMENTATION-RELATED ISSUES 
 - Paragraph 8.3 of document WT/MIN/(01)/17  
 9.1 The Chairman
 recalled that the Committee's mandate, as set out in paragraph 8.3 of the 
Implementation Decision of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, was "to identify and assess practical means” to address concerns on the accuracy of declared values, including “the exchange of 
information on export values and to report to the Ge neral Council by the end of 2002 at the latest.".  
He further recalled that the General Council, at  its meeting in December 2002, authorized the 
Committee to continue its work under the existing ma ndate and to report back  to the General Council 
once its work had been completed.  In the July 2004 Decision, the General Council instructed the 
Trade Negotiations Committee, nego tiating bodies and other WTO bodies concerned to redouble their 
efforts to find appropriate solutions as a priority.  He informed the Committee that, as requested, he had 
undertaken informal contacts with some interested delegations.  He reported that there had not been 
any further developments on the matter.     
 
9.2 The representative of India
 thanked the Chairman for carrying out informal consultations to try 
to resolve or to further the progress on the implementa tion of paragraph 8.3.  In  order to try and find a 
way forward, he proposed to send to his capital the draft decision that had been circulated in 2003 for 
re-examination.  He would report to the Committee at its  next meeting on the outcome of this effort.   
 
9.3 The Chairman  proposed that the Committee take note of the statements made and agree to 
revert to this item at its next meeting.  9.4 It was so agreed
. 
 G/VAL/M/40 
Page 10  
 
 X. OTHER BUSINESS 
 - Date of the next meeting 
 
10.1 The Chairman
 informed the Committee that the date of the next meeting of the Committee 
could not be confirmed as yet.  Members would be informed of the date in due course.   
 
10.2 Before adjourning the meeting, the Chairman  drew Members' attention to the Chairman's 
remarks at the meeting of the Trade Negotiations  Committee last Thursday .  With respect to 
implementation issues, he stated that he was undertaking a consultative process on all outstanding 
implementation issues under paragraph 12(b) of the Doha Ministerial Declaration with the assistance 
of a number of Chairs of the relevant WTO bodies.   The five tirets related to the Agreement on 
Customs Valuation remained outstanding and fell into  this category of issues.  In his capacity of 
Friend of the TNC Chair, he informed Members that  he did not plan to hold any new consultations on 
this matter.  Nevertheless, he remained at the dis posal of Members and if any wished to speak to him 
about these outstanding issues, they could contact him on an individual basis. 
 
10.3 The meeting was adjourned.  
__________