WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/VAL/W/161 
5 October 2007 
 
 (07-4255) 
Committee on Customs Valuation  
  
 
DRAFT 
 
REPORT (2007) OF THE COMM ITTEE ON CUSTOMS VALUATION 
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS 
 A. B
ACKGROUND  
1. The Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and 
Trade 1994 (the Agreement) entered into force on 1 Ja nuary 1995.  This report covers the year 2007.  It 
addresses the work undertaken by the Committee on Customs Valuation (the Committee) in respect of 
the objectives of the Agreement, which are: to provide greater uniformity and certainty in the 
implementation of the provisions of Article VII of the GATT 1994;  to esta blish a fair, uniform and 
neutral system for the valuation of goods for custom s purposes that precludes the use of arbitrary of 
fictitious customs values;  to ensure  that the basis for valuation of goods for customs purposes should, to 
the greatest extent possible, be the transaction valu e of the goods being valued;  and to secure additional 
benefits for the international trade of developing countries. 
 
2. During the period under consideration, the Committee has held two formal meetings, on 
8 May (G/VAL/M/43) and 18 October (G/VAL/M/44 to  be issued) under the Chairmanship of Mr. Joe 
McClintock (United Kingdom).  At the meeting of  8 May 2007, the Committee elected Mr. McClintock 
as Chairperson for the 2007-2008 period.     
3. Participation in the Committee is open to all WTO Members.  In additi on, Governments granted 
observer status by the WTO Genera l Council attended Committee mee tings as observers.  At the 
April 1997 meeting, the Committee granted observer  status to those orga nizations which had had 
observer status on an ad hoc  basis, namely UNCTAD and the WCO, as well as to the ACP and the 
IADB.   The Committee took note of the fact that the World Bank and the IMF had observer status by 
virtue of the Agreements between these organizations and the WTO. 
 
4. The Committee's rules of procedure, which we re approved by the Council for Trade in Goods, 
are contained in G/L/146.  B. I
MPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT  
5. During the period under review, no devel oping country Members maintained delayed 
application of the provisions of the Agreement in ac cordance with the provisions of Article 20.1 of the 
Agreement.  At circulation of th is report, no Member maintains an extension of the delay period in 
accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1, Annex III. Understanding has been reached in the 
Committee that the texts of the national legislation of these developing country Members will be 
supplied to the Committee before the developing co untry Members begin applying the provisions of the 
Agreement (G/VAL/5, para. B.2(ii)).    6. To date, 76 Members have notified their nati onal legislation on customs valuation (this figure 
includes the 14 Members which have submitted comm unications indicating that their legislation notified 
under the Tokyo Round Customs Valuation Agreem ent remained valid under the WTO Customs G/VAL/W/161 
Page 2  
 
  Valuation Agreement and does not include the 25 indi vidual EC Members).  50 Members have not yet 
made any notification  (See Annex).    C. 
ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE  
7. At the meeting on 8 May 2007, the Committee: 
• concluded its examination of the legislation of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 
and Swaziland.  It agreed to revert to the ex aminations of the legislation of Egypt, Saudi 
Arabia, Tanzania and Thailand at the next meeting;   
• took note of the information in document G/VAL/ 2/Rev.24 which contained a list of Members 
having invoked the special and differential prov isions of the Customs Valuation Agreement, 
and of the status report presented by Sene gal in G/VAL/W/159 and Corr.1 pursuant to its 
waiver decision in WT/L/655 on the implementati on of minimum values for certain products;   
• took note of the information presented regarding technical assistance activities on customs 
valuation held thus far in 2007; 
• took note of the nine documents containing the Annual Reviews, namely G/VAL/W/29, 
G/VAL/W/43, G/VAL/W/77, G/VAL/W/89, G/VAL/W/108, G/VAL/W/124, G/VAL/W/136, G/VAL/W/150 and G/VAL/W/156 and Corr.1 and agreed  to revert to this item at the next 
meeting; 
• was informed of the conclusion of the second case brought to the Independent Entity 
established under Article 4 of the Agreement on Preshipment Inspection; 
• agreed that the Chairman would hold informal consultations on paragraph 8.3 of the Decision 
on Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns and that the Committee would revert to the 
matter at the next meeting of the Committee; 
• elected Mr. Joe McClintock (United Kingdom) as its Chair for 2007-2008.  
 
[8. At the meeting on 18 October 2007:  
 To be completed following the meeting.  ]  G/VAL/W/161 
 Page 3 
 
 
  ANNEX1 
 
Notifications  
 
Members Members who have 
indicated their 
legislation remains valid 
under the WTO 
Committee 
(G/VAL/M/1) Members who have 
submitted their legislation or 
amendments under Articles 
22.1 and 22.2 of the 
Agreement Members who have 
submitted their replies to the 
Checklist of Issues 
(G/VAL/5) Members who are 
delaying application 
of the Agreement 
under Article 20.1 or 
para. 1, Annex III of 
the Agreement or 
Article IX of the 
WTO Agreement 
Albania N/A G/VAL/N/1/ALB/1   
Angola N/A    
Antigua & Barbuda N/A    
Argentina G/VAL/N/1/ARG/1 VAL/1/Add.22 + Suppl. 1-4 
+Suppl. 2/Rev.1 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.4  
Armenia  G/VAL/N/1/ARM/1 G/VAL/N/2/ARM/1  
Australia G/VAL/N/1/AUS/1 VAL/1/Add.14 + Suppl. 1-4 
G/VAL/N/1/AUS/2 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.12 + 
Suppl.1  
Bahrain N/A    
Bangladesh N/A    
Barbados N/A    
Belize N/A    
Benin N/A    
Bolivia N/A G/VAL/N/1/BOL/1   
Botswana  VAL/1/Add.16   
Brazil G/VAL/N/1/BRA/1 VAL/1/Add.20 + Suppl.1 
G/VAL/N/1/BRA/2 and 3 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.3  
Brunei Darussalam N/A G/VAL/N/1/BRN/1 G/VAL/N/2/BRN/1  
Bulgaria N/A G/VAL/N/1/BGR/1 G/VAL/N/2/BGR/1  
Burkina Faso N/A G/VAL/N/1/BFA/1   
Burundi N/A    
Cambodia N/A    
Cameroon N/A    
Canada G/VAL/N/1/CAN/1 VAL/1/Add.17 + Suppl.1-3  
G/VAL/N/1/CAN/2 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.14 
G/VAL/N/2/CAN/1  
Central African Rep. N/A    
Chad N/A    
Chile N/A    
China N/A G/VAL/N/1/CHN/1, 2,  3 
and 4  G/VAL/N/2/CHN/1  
Colombia N/A G/VAL/N/1/COL/1 G/VAL/N/2/COL/1  
Congo N/A    
Costa Rica N/A G/VAL/N/1/CRI/1 G/VAL/N/2/CRI/1  
Côte d'Ivoire N/A G/VAL/N/1/CVI/1   
Croatia N/A G/VAL/N/1/HRV/1 G/VAL/N/2/HRV/1  
Cuba N/A G/VAL/N/1/CUB/1 G/VAL/N/2/CUB/1  
Dem Rep. of Congo N/A    
Djibouti N/A    
Dominica N/A G/VAL/N/1/DMA/1   
Dominican Rep. N/A G/VAL/N/1/DOM/1   
Ecuador N/A    
Egypt N/A G/VAL/N/1/EGY/1 G/VAL/N/2/EGY/1  
El Salvador N/A    
European 
Communities G/VAL/N/1/EEC/1  VAL/1/Add.2 + Suppl.1-13 + 
Suppl.1 
G/VAL/N/1/EEC/1/Rev.1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.6  
                                                      
1 Documents that begin with the code "VAL" are Tokyo Round documents.  The table reflects the 
situation as of the date of circulation of this report. G/VAL/W/161 
Page 4  
 
  Members Members who have 
indicated their 
legislation remains valid 
under the WTO 
Committee 
(G/VAL/M/1) Members who have 
submitted their legislation or 
amendments under Articles 
22.1 and 22.2 of the 
Agreement Members who have 
submitted their replies to the 
Checklist of Issues 
(G/VAL/5) Members who are 
delaying application 
of the Agreement 
under Article 20.1 or 
para. 1, Annex III of 
the Agreement or 
Article IX of the 
WTO Agreement 
Fiji N/A G/VAL/N/1/FJI/1 G/VAL/N/2/FJI/1  
Former Yugoslav  Rep. of Macedonia  
N/A  
G/VAL/N/1/MKD/1  
G/VAL/N/2/MKD/1  
Gabon N/A G/VAL/N/1/GAB/1   
Gambia N/A    
Georgia N/A G/VAL/N/1/GEO/1   
Ghana N/A    
Grenada N/A    
Guatemala N/A G/VAL/N/1/GTM/1   
Guinea Bissau N/A    
Guinea, Rep. of N/A    
Guyana N/A    
Haiti N/A    
Honduras N/A    
Hong Kong, China G/VAL/N/1/HKG/1 VAL/1/Add.9 N/A  
Iceland N/A G/VAL/N/1/ISL/1 G/VAL/N/2/ISL/1  
India G/VAL/N/1/IND/1 VAL/1/Add.24 + Suppl.1 
G/VAL/N/1/IND/2 and 3 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.6 
G/VAL/N/2/IND/1 + Corr.1  
Indonesia N/A G/VAL/N/1/IDN/1 G/VAL/N/2/IDN/1 + Corr.1  
Israel N/A G/VAL/N/1/ISR/1 + Corr.1 G/VAL/N/2/ISR/1  
Jamaica N/A G/VAL/N/1/JAM/1 G/VAL/N/2/JAM/1  
Japan G/VAL/N/1/JPN/1 VAL/1 /Add.7 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.8 
G/VAL/N/2/JPN/1  
Jordan N/A G/VAL/N/1/JOR/1 G/VAL/N/2/JOR/1  
Kenya N/A G/VAL/N/1KEN/1 G/VAL/N/2/KEN/1  
Korea G/VAL/N/1/KOR/1 VAL/1/Add.19 
+ Suppl. 1-4 
+ Suppl.3/Corr.1 
G/VAL/N/1/KOR/2 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.1  
+ Suppl.1  
Kuwait N/A    
Kyrgyz Republic N/A G/VAL/N/1/KGZ/1 G/VAL/N/2/KGZ/1  
Lesotho  VAL/1/Add.21 + Suppl.1 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.2  
Liechtenstein N/A G/VAL/N/1/LIE/1 N/A  
Macao, China N/A G/VAL/N/1/MAC/1 N/A  
Madagascar N/A G/VAL/N/1/MDG/1   
Malawi G/VAL/N/1/MWI/1 VAL/1/Add.27   
Malaysia N/A G/VAL/N/1/ MYS/1 G/VAL/N/2/MYS/1  
Maldives N/A    
Mali N/A    
Mauritania N/A    
Mauritius N/A G/VAL/N/1/MUS/1 G/VAL/N/2/MUS/1  
Mexico N/A VAL/1/Add.25 + Suppl. 1-3 
+ Suppl.1/Rev.1 
G/VAL/N1/MEX/1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.10 
VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.8 
G/VAL/N/2/MEX/1 and Corr. 1  
Moldova N/A G/VAL/N/1/MDA/1 G/VAL/N/2/MDA/1  
Mongolia N/A    
Morocco N/A G/VAL/N/1/MAR/1 and 2 
G/VAL/N/1/MAR/1/Rev.1 + 
Corr.1 G/VAL/N/2/MAR/1 
G/VAL/N/2/MAR/2  
Mozambique N/A G/VAL/N/1/MOZ/1   
Myanmar N/A    
Namibia N/A G/VAL/N/1/NAM/1   
Nepal N/A     G/VAL/W/161 
 Page 5 
 
 
  Members Members who have 
indicated their 
legislation remains valid 
under the WTO 
Committee 
(G/VAL/M/1) Members who have 
submitted their legislation or 
amendments under Articles 
22.1 and 22.2 of the 
Agreement Members who have 
submitted their replies to the 
Checklist of Issues 
(G/VAL/5) Members who are 
delaying application 
of the Agreement 
under Article 20.1 or 
para. 1, Annex III of 
the Agreement or 
Article IX of the 
WTO Agreement 
New Zealand G/VAL/N/1/NZL/1 VAL/1/A dd.12 + Suppl.1 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.10  
Nicaragua N/A    
Niger N/A    
Nigeria N/A    
Norway G/VAL/N/1/NOR/1 VAL/1/Add.11 + Corr.1 
+ Suppl. 1-2 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.7  
Oman N/A G/VAL/N/1/OMN/1 G/VAL/N/2/OMN/1  
Pakistan N/A G/VAL/N/1/PAK/1   
Panama N/A G/VAL/N/1/PA N/1 G/VAL/N/2/PAN/1  
Papua New Guinea N/A    
Paraguay N/A G/VAL/N/1/PRY/1   
Peru N/A G/VAL/N/1/PER/1 - 3   
Philippines N/A G/VAL/N/1/ PHL/1 G/VAL/N/2/PHL/1  
Qatar N/A G/VAL/N/1/QAT/1 G/VAL/N/2/QAT/1  
Romania N/A VAL/1/Add.8 + Suppl. 1-2 
G/VAL/N/1/ROM/1 and 2 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.9  
Rwanda N/A    
St. Kitts & Nevis N/A    
St. Lucia N/A    
St. Vincent & 
Grenadines N/A    
Saudi Arabia N/A G/VAL/N/ 1/SAU/1 G/VAL/N/2/SAU/1  
Senegal N/A G/VAL/N/1/SEN/1   
Separate Customs 
Territory of Taiwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen and 
Matsu (Chinese 
Taipei) N/A G/VAL/N/1/TPKM/1 G/VAL/N/2/TPKM/1-2  
Sierra Leone N/A    
Singapore N/A G/VAL/N/1/SGP/1 G/VAL/N/2/SGP/1  
Solomon Islands N/A    
South Africa N/A VAL/1/Add.15 + Corr.1 
+ Suppl. 1-3 G/VAL/N/1/ZAF VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.13  
Sri Lanka N/A    
Suriname N/A G/VAL/N/1/SUR/1   
Swaziland N/A G/VAL/N/1/SWZ/1 G/VAL/N/2/SWZ/1  
Switzerland G/VAL/N/1/CH E/1 VAL/1/Add.5 N/A  
Tanzania N/A G/VAL/N/1/TZA/1 G/VAL/N/2/TZA/1  
Thailand N/A G/VAL/N/1/THA/1 G/VAL/N/2/THA/1  
Togo N/A    
Trinidad & Tobago N/A G/VAL/N/1/TTO/1 G/VAL/N/2/TTO/1  
Tunisia N/A G/VAL/N/1/TUN/1   
Turkey G/VAL/N/1/TUR/1 VAL/1/Add.29 
G/VAL/N/1/TUR/ 2 G/VAL/N/2/TUR/1  
Uganda N/A G/VAL/N/1/UGA/1   
United Arab 
Emirates N/A    
United States G/VAL/N/1/USA/1 VAL/1/Add.1 + Suppl.1-5 VAL/2/Rev.1/Add.1  
Uruguay N/A G/VAL/N/1/URY/1 G/VAL/N/2/URY/1  
Venezuela, The 
Bolivaran Rep. of N/A G/VAL/N/1/VEN/1 G/VAL/N/2/VEN/1  G/VAL/W/161 
Page 6  
 
  Members Members who have 
indicated their 
legislation remains valid 
under the WTO 
Committee 
(G/VAL/M/1) Members who have 
submitted their legislation or 
amendments under Articles 
22.1 and 22.2 of the 
Agreement Members who have 
submitted their replies to the 
Checklist of Issues 
(G/VAL/5) Members who are 
delaying application 
of the Agreement 
under Article 20.1 or 
para. 1, Annex III of 
the Agreement or 
Article IX of the 
WTO Agreement 
Zambia N/A G/VAL/N/1/ZMB/1   
Zimbabwe G/VAL/N/1/ZWE/1 VAL/1/Add.23 VAL/2/Rev.2/Add.5  
TOTAL NOTIFIED  762 52  
 
__________ 
                                                      
2 This total number includes notifications by Members who have indicated their legislation remains valid under 
the WTO Committee (i.e. those in the first column of the table) and those made pursuant to Article 22 of the WTO 
Agreement and the D ecision on Notifications (G/VAL/5).