WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/VAL/W/29/Rev.1 
14 October 2009 
 (09-5009) 
Committee on Customs Valuation  
  
 
FOURTH ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND 
OPERATION OF THE AGREEMENT 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 fourth annual review of the implementation and operation of the Agr eement on Implementation of 
Article VII of the General Agreem ent on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (the Agreement).  This review was 
suspended at the Committee's meeting on 13 November 1998.  This revision is an  updated version of the 
fourth review to include the work of the 13 November 1998 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/29/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 (132).............................................................................................................. ....3 
(b) Delayed Application and Reservations.......................................................................................4  
(i) Article 20.1 (delayed application of the provisions of the Agreement) (56)...............................4  
(ii) Article 20.2 (delayed application of the computed value method) (51)......................................4  
(iii) Annex III, paragraph 2 (reservation concerning minimum values) (35)....................................5  
(iv) Annex III, paragraph 3 (reservation concerni ng reversal of sequential order of 
Articles 5 and 6) (51) ......................................................................................................... .........5  
(v) Annex III, paragraph 4 (reservation concerning application of Article 5.2 whether or 
not the importer so requests) (49)............................................................................................. ..6 
(c) Observer Govern ments (36)...................................................................................................... ..6 
(d) Observer International Organizations (5) ...................................................................................6  
II. OFFICERS OF THE WTO COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS VALUATION......................6  
III. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE ....................................................................................7  
IV. NATIONAL LEGISLATION PRESENTED .........................................................................7  
(i) Texts of national legislation.................................................................................................. ......7  
(ii) Checklist of  issues............................................................................................................ ...........7  
(iii) Examination of national legislation............................................................................................ 7 
(iv) Information on the application of the Committee Decisions ......................................................8  
V. AMENDMENTS, INTERPRETATIONS AND RECTIFICATIONS OF THE 
TEXT OF THE AGREEMENT ..............................................................................................8  
VI. OTHER DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE .....................................................8  
VII. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ..................................................................................................8  
VIII.  ISSUES RELATED TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT .........................9  
IX. REPORTS BY THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS VALUATION ...................................................................................................................... ......9
 
X. CONSULTATION AND DISPUTE SETTLEMENT............................................................9  
XI. ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COUNCIL  FOR TRADE IN GOODS.................................9  
 
  G/VAL/W/29/Rev.1 
 Page 3 
 
 
  I. MEMBERS, DELAYED APPLICATIONS, RESERVATIONS AND OBSERVER 
STATUS 
(a) WTO Members (132) 
Angola 
Antigua and Barbuda 
Argentina 
Australia Austria Bahrain Bangladesh 
Barbados 
Belgium Belize Benin Bolivia 
Botswana 
Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi 
Cameroon 
Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile 
Colombia 
Congo Congo, Dem. Rep. of the  Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire 
Cuba 
Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti 
Dominica 
Dominican Republic EC Ecuador Egypt El Salvador 
Fiji 
Finland France Gabon Gambia 
Germany Ghana 
Greece 
Grenada 
Guatemala Guinea Bissau Guinea, Rep. of Guyana 
Haiti 
Honduras Hong Kong, China Hungary Iceland 
India 
Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica 
Japan 
Kenya Korea Kuwait Lesotho 
Liechtenstein 
Luxembourg Macao, China Madagascar Malawi 
Malaysia 
Maldives Mali Malta Mauritania 
Mauritius 
Mexico Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar 
Namibia 
Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger 
Nigeria Norway 
Pakistan 
Panama 
Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines 
Poland  
Portugal Qatar Romania Rwanda 
Saint Kitts and Nevis 
Saint Lucia Saint Vincent & Grenadines Senegal Sierra Leone Singapore 
Slovak Republic 
Slovenia Solomon Islands South Africa Spain 
Sri Lanka 
Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland 
Tanzania 
Thailand Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia 
Turkey 
Uganda United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay 
Venezuela 
Zambia Zimbabwe 
 
 G/VAL/W/29/Rev.1 
Page 4  
 
  (b) Delayed Application and Reservations 
 The provisions for special and differential treatment available for developing country 
Members have been invoked as follows:  
(i) Article 20.1 (delayed application of the provisions of the Agreement) (56) 
Bahrain 
Bangladesh  Benin Bolivia Brunei Darussalam 
Burkina Faso  
Burundi Cameroon Central African Republic  Chad 
Chile  
Colombia Costa Rica  Côte d'Ivoire  Cuba  Djibouti 
Dominican Republic  
Ecuador Egypt  El Salvador  
Gabon  Ghana Guatemala Guyana 
Haiti 
Honduras  Indonesia  Jamaica Kenya  
Kuwait 
Madagascar Malaysia  Maldives Mali Malta  
Mauritania 
Mauritius  Myanmar  Nicaragua  
Niger Nigeria Pakistan  Paraguay  
Peru
1 
Philippines  Senegal  Sri Lanka  Tanzania 
Thailand  
Togo  Tunisia  Uganda United Arab Emirates Uruguay  
Venezuela  
Zambia 
 
(ii) Article 20.2 (delayed application of the computed value method) (51) 
Bahrain 
Bangladesh Bolivia Brunei Darussalam Burkina Faso 
Burundi 
Cameroon Chile Colombia Costa Rica 
Côte d'Ivoire 
Djibouti Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador  Egypt  
Gabon 
Guatemala Guyana 
Haiti Honduras Indonesia Israel 
Jamaica 
Kenya  Kuwait Madagascar Malaysia 
Mali 
Malta Mauritania Mexico
1 
Morocco1 
Myanmar 
Nicaragua 
Nigeria Pakistan 
Peru1 
Philippines Senegal Singapore 
Sri Lanka 
Tanzania Thailand Togo Tunisia 
Turkey
1 
United Arab Emirates Uruguay Venezuela Zambia  
 
                                                     
 
1 The invocation of the special provisions available for developing country Members under the Customs 
Valuation Agreement 1979 shall continue to apply under the WTO Customs Valuation Agreement for the 
developing country Member concerned (WT/L/38).  G/VAL/W/29/Rev.1 
 Page 5 
 
 
  (iii) Annex III, paragraph 2 (reservation concerning minimum values) (35) 
Bahrain 
Bangladesh Burkina Faso Chile 
Colombia 
Côte d'Ivoire Djibouti Dominican Republic Gabon 
Guatemala 
Guyana Haiti Indonesia 
Jamaica Kenya Madagascar 
Malaysia 
Mali Malta Mauritania Morocco (G/VAL/M/8) 
Myanmar 
Pakistan Paraguay Peru
1 
Philippines Singapore Sri Lanka 
Thailand 
Togo Tunisia Uganda Uruguay 
Venezuela 
Zambia  
 
(iv) Annex III, paragraph 3 (reservation concerning reversal of sequential order of Articles 5 
and 6) (51) 
Argentina
1 
Bahrain Bangladesh Brazil
1 
Brunei Darussalam 
Burkina Faso 
Cameroon Chile Colombia Costa Rica 
Côte d'Ivoire 
Djibouti Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt 
El Salvador 
Gabon Guatemala 
Guyana Haiti Honduras India
1 
Indonesia 
Israel Jamaica Kenya Madagascar 
Malawi
1 
Malaysia Mali Malta Mexico
1 
Morocco1 
Myanmar Nicaragua 
Niger Pakistan Peru
1 
Philippines 
Singapore 
Sri Lanka Thailand Togo Tunisia 
Turkey
1 
Uganda United Arab Emirates Uruguay Venezuela 
Zambia 
Zimbabwe
1 
 G/VAL/W/29/Rev.1 
Page 6  
 
   
(v) Annex III, paragraph 4 (reservation concerning application of Article 5.2 whether or not the 
importer so requests) (49) 
Argentina
1 
Bahrain 
Bangladesh 
Brazil1 
Brunei Darussalam Burkina Faso Cameroon 
Chile 
Colombia Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Djibouti 
Dominican Republic 
Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Gabon Guatemala 
Guyana 
Haiti 
Honduras India
1 
Indonesia Israel 
Jamaica 
Kenya Madagascar Malaysia Mali 
Malta 
Mexico
1 
Morocco1 
Myanmar  Nicaragua Niger 
Nigeria 
Pakistan 
Peru
1 
Philippines Singapore Sri Lanka 
Thailand 
Togo Tunisia Turkey
1 
Uruguay 
Venezuela 
Zambia Zimbabwe
1 
 
(c) Observer Governments (36) 
Albania  
Algeria Andorra Armenia 
Azerbaijan 
Belarus Bhutan Cambodia Cape Verde China 
Croatia 
Estonia Ethiopia  
Former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia Georgia 
Holy See 
Jordan Kazakhstan Kyrgyz Rep. Laos, P.D.R. of  Latvia 
Lithuania 
Moldova Nepal 
Oman Russian Federation Saudi Arabia 
Seychelles 
Sudan Taipei, Chinese Tonga Ukraine Uzbekistan 
Vanuatu 
Viet Nam 
 (d) Observer International Organizations (5)
2 
 World Customs Organization 
 IMF 
 UNCTAD  ACP  IADB  
II. OFFICERS OF THE WTO COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS VALUATION 
 Chairperson:  Mr. Mohamed Bentaja (Morocco) 
 Vice-Chairperson: Ms. Ju lia Nielson (Australia) 
                                                     
 
     2These organizations now have official observe r 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/29/Rev.1 
 Page 7 
 
 
  III. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE 
 During the reporting period, the Committee ha s held three meetings on 8 May 1998, on 26, 
30 June and on 2 July 1998, and on 13 November 1998.  The minutes of these meetings are contained in documents G/VAL/M/7, G/VAL/M/8,  and G/VAL/M/9, respectively. 
 IV. NATIONAL LEGISLATION PRESENTED 
(i) Texts of national legislation 
 Article 22  of the Agreement requires each Memb er 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 first meeting, the Committee ag reed on procedures for the notification of national 
legislation (G/VAL/M/1, para graphs 29-35, 71 and 72). 
  During the reporting period, the following co mmunications and texts ha ve been submitted: 
  Canada (G/VAL/N/1/CAN/2) 
 Cyprus (G/VAL/N/1/CYP/2) 
 Iceland (G/VAL/N/1/ISL/1)  Israel (G/VAL/N/1/ISR/1)  Morocco (G/VAL/N/1/MAR/1)  Panama (G/VAL/N/1/PAN/1)    (ii) Checklist of issues 
 At its first meeting, the Committee agreed on pr ocedures for the submissi on of a checklist of 
issues (G/VAL/M/1, paragraphs 36-39).   During the reporting period, the followi ng communications have been submitted: 
 
 Panama (G/VAL/N/2/PAN/1)  Slovenia (G/VAL/N/2/SVN/1)  
(iii) Examination of national legislation 
 At its meeting of 8 May 1998, the Commit tee pursued its examination of various 
communications and impl ementing legislations.  The Committee agreed to conclude the examination of 
the legislations of Canada, India and Singapore.  It ag reed to continue examination of the legislation of 
Mexico (VAL/1/Add.25/Suppl.1, 2 and 3).  The Comm ittee was informed that  one Member, Malawi 
(G/VAL/N/1/MWI/1), had submitted a communication i ndicating that their legi slation notified under the 
Tokyo Round Customs Valuation Agreement remained valid under the WTO Customs Valuation 
Agreement.  The Committee took note of the communication from Slovenia containing its responses to 
the Checklist of Issues.  The Committee noted that  51 developing countries had evoked the delay period 
provided in Article 20.1, and that 27 of these countries would have to apply the Agreement by 1 January 
2000 and another 20 by the end of the year 2000.  It  was noted that the transition period, during which 
developing countries should prepare fo r implementation, was half over. 
 
 At the meeting of 13 November 1998, the Committ ee continued examination of the legislation 
of Mexico and initiated examination of the legislatio ns of Cyprus, Iceland, Is rael, Morocco and Panama. 
It agreed to conclude the examination of the legisl ation of Cyprus, Iceland, and Mexico.  The Committee 
took note of the communication from Panama containing its responses to the Chec klist of Issues.  The 
Committee again noted the situation with regard to the developing countries which had evoked the delay G/VAL/W/29/Rev.1 
Page 8  
 
  period under Article 20.1.  There we re 53 countries in this situation,  28 of which would have to apply 
the Agreement by 1 January 2000.  
(iv) 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 Equipment (G/VAL/5), ma de available by Members, is 
summarized in document G/VAL/W/5/Rev.5.    
V. AMENDMENTS, INTERPRETATIONS AND RECTIFICATIONS OF THE TEXT OF 
THE AGREEMENT 
 At its first meeting on 12 May 1995, the Comm ittee adopted the decisions 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 were 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 Co mmittee adopted other decisions which are 
contained in document G/VAL/5.  The Committee also adopted decisi ons that were referred by the 
Ministers at Marrakech to the Committee for adopti on.  The texts of the de cisions are contained in 
document G/VAL/1.  During the reporting period, th e Committee adopted the Decision on the Terms 
and Conditions of the Moroccan Reservation under Paragraph 2, Annex III of the Agreement on 
Implementation of Article VII of  the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, contained in 
G/VAL/M/8.   
VII. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
 Technical assistance aimed at helping countries in their preparations for the application of the 
Agreement has continued to be a matter of high pr iority to Members, to the Committee and to the 
Technical Committee duri ng the reporting period. At the May me eting, the Chairman reported on two 
informal meetings which had been held on technical assistance.  Th e Committee reviewed responses to 
its request for information which were subsequently  circulated in G/VAL/W/24.  The WTO Secretariat 
briefed the Committee on the progress and plans for its Technical Assistance  Programme on Customs 
Valuation.  It was agreed  that Members would continue to respond  to the request for information which 
could help Members to design bilatera l and regional technical assistance activities as well as feed into 
the WTO Secretariat Programme.  It was also agreed that the new Chairman would hold informal consultations to review additiona l responses to the request, to hear progress on the Secretariat 
Programme, and to discuss any Members' particul ar situation and/or ne w proposals on how the 
Committee could further pursue its mandate under Article 20.3 of the Agreement.  At the 13 November 
meeting, the Committee agreed that the Secretariat would prepare a checklist of the priority activities for technical assistance to assist Members in identifyi ng gaps in activities aimed at implementation of the 
Agreement.     Information on technical assistance activ ities is contained in working document 
G/VAL/8/Add.3 and Add.4 which reproduces information containe d in WCO documents 41.091 and 
41.719, as well as in G/VAL/W/24 and G/VAL/W/25.   G/VAL/W/29/Rev.1 
 Page 9 
 
 
  VIII.  ISSUES RELATED TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT  
 At the meeting of 13 November 1998, I ndia requested information from the European 
Communities regarding customs valuation practices fo r certain fruits and vegetables (G/VAL/M/9).   
 
IX. REPORTS BY THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS VALUATION 
 The representative of the World Customs Organi zation (WCO) presented de tailed oral reports 
on the Sixth and Seventh Sessions of the Techni cal Committee on Customs Valuation, held on 
27 April - 1 May 1998 and on 5 - 8 October 1998, respectively.   The Committee on Customs Valuation took note of  these reports and expr essed appreciation for 
the continued valuable work of the Technical Committee.  
 
X. CONSULTATION AND DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 
 During the reporting period, the European Communities (WT/DS53/1), Norway (WT/DS53/2) 
and Switzerland (WT/DS53/3) continue d to consult with Mexico under Article 19 of the Agreement and 
pursuant to Article XXII:1 of the GATT 1994 and Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules and 
Procedures Governing the Settleme nt of Disputes, on the Mexica n Customs Law and the Resolution 
establishing the general rules governi ng the application of the customs provisions of the North American 
Free Trade Agreement.  Also, during the reporting period, India requested c onsultations under Article 
4.4 of the DSU with the European Communities rega rding restrictions through the Cumulative Recovery 
System for determining certain import duties on rice (G/VAL/D/1 and Corr.1). 
 
XI. 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/277). 
 
 
     
 
    
 
   G/VAL/W/29/Rev.1 
Page 10  
 
  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 Issues (VAL/2/R ev.1 and Rev.2) received from Signatories. 
 
Member National legislation 
 Replies to the 
Checklist of Issues 
Argentina VAL/1/Add.22 + Suppl. 1-4 
G/VAL/N/1/ARG/1 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.4 
+ Suppl.2/Rev.1 
Australia VAL/1/Add.14 + Suppl.1-4 
G/VAL/N/1/AUS/1  VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.12 + Suppl.1 
Botswana VAL/1/Add.16 Not received 
Brazil VAL/1/Add.20 + Suppl.1 
G/VAL/N/1/BRZ/1 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.3 
Bulgaria G/VAL/N/1/BGR/1  
Canada  VAL/1/Add.17 + Suppl.1-3 
G/VAL/N/1/CAN/1 and 2 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.14 
Cyprus VAL/1/Add.26 
G/VAL/N/1/CYP/1 and 2 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.7 
Czech Rep. VAL/1/Add.18 + Suppl.1/ 
Corr.1-2   G/VAL/N/1/CZE/1 and 2 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.15+ Suppl.1 
EEC VAL/1/Add.2 +  Suppl.1-13 
G/VAL/N/1/EEC/1/Rev.1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.6 
+ Suppl.1 
Fiji G/VAL/N/1/FJI/1 G/VAL/N/2/FJI/1 
Hong Kong, China  VAL/1/Add.9  
G/VAL/N/1/HKG/1 Not applicable 
Hungary VAL/1/Add.6   
G/VAL/N/1/HUN/1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.4 
Iceland  G/VAL/N/1/ISL/1  
Israel  G/VAL/N/1/ISR/1  
India VAL/1/Add.24 + Suppl.1 
G/VAL/N/1/IND/2 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.6 
Japan  VAL/1/Add.7 
G/VAL/N/1/JPN/1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.8 
Korea, Rep. of VAL/1/Add.19 + Suppl.1-4 
G/VAL/N/1/KOR/1  VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.1+ Suppl.1 
Suppl.2/Corr.1-2 + Suppl.3/Corr.1 
Lesotho  VAL/1/Add.21 + Suppl.1 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.2 
Liechtenstein G/VAL/N/1/LIE/1  
Macao, China  G/VAL/N/1/MAC/1  
Malawi  VAL/1/Add.27 
G/VAL/N/1/MWI/1  
Mexico VAL/1/Add.25 + Suppl.1-3
  VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.8 
+ Suppl.1/Rev.1 
Morocco G/VAL/N/1/MAR/1  
                                                      
1 Documents beginning with "VAL" are documents issued under the Tokyo Round Committee on 
Customs Valuation. 
  G/VAL/W/29/Rev.1 
 Page 11 
 
 
  Member National legislation 
 Replies to the 
Checklist of Issues 
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 
Panama  G/VAL/N/1/PAN/1 G/VAL/N/2/PAN/1 
Poland  VAL/1/Add.28  
Romania VAL/1/Add.8 +  Suppl.1-2 
G/VAL/N/1/ROM/1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.9 
Slovak Rep. VAL/1/Add.18 + Suppl.1/ 
+ Corr.1-2 G/VAL/N/1/SVK/1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.15+ Suppl.1 
Slovenia G/VAL/N/1/SVN/1 G/VAL/N/2/SVN/1 
Singapore G/VAL/N/1/SG P/1 G/VAL/N/2/SGP/1 
South Africa VAL/1/Add.15 + Co rr.1             
+ Suppl.1-3 G/VAL/N/1/ZAF VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.13 
Switzerland VAL/1/Add.5 
G/VAL/N/1/CHE/1 Not applicable 
Turkey VAL/1/Add.29 
G/VAL/N/1/TUR/1  
United States VAL/1/Add.1 +  Suppl.1-5 
G/VAL/N/1/USA/1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.1 
Zimbabwe VAL/1/Add.23 
G/VAL/N/1/ZWE/1 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.5 
 
 
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