WORLD TRADE WT/L/38
15February 1995
ORGANIZATION
(95-0314)
CONTINUED APPLICATION UNDER THE WTO CUSTOMS VALUATION
AGREEMENT OFINVOCATIONS OFPROVISIONS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
FOR DELAYED APPLICATION AND RESERVATIONS UNDER THE CUSTOMS
VALUATION AGREEMENT 1979
Decision approved bytheGeneral Council on31January 1995
TheGENERAL COUNCIL oftheWTO decides asfollows:
Recalling thatparagraphs 1and2ofArticle 21oftheAgreement onImplementation ofArticle VII
oftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade (hereinafter referred toasthe"Customs Valuation
Agreement 1979") enable developing country parties todelay theapplication oftheAgreement and
further delay theapplication ofcertain ofitsprovisions;
Recalling thatparagraph 3oftheProtocol totheCustoms Valuation Agreement 1979enables developing
country parties tomake areservation toretain asystem ofofficially established minimum values on
alimited andtransitional basis under suchterms andconditions asmaybeagreed bytheCommittee
onCustoms Valuation;
Recalling thatparagraphs 4and5oftheProtocol totheCustoms Valuation Agreement 1979 enable
developing country parties tomake certain reservations relating tocertain methods ofvaluation;
Noting thatanumber ofdeveloping country parties totheCustoms Valuation Agreement 1979 have
availed themselves ofthose rights andreservations;
Noting thatanydelayed application invoked byadeveloping country party might nothavelapsed at
thetimeofentry intoforce oftheAgreement establishing theWorld Trade Organization forthe
developing country Member concerned;
Considering thatareservation under paragraph 3oftheProtocol totheCustoms Valuation Agreement
1979maybeinvoked atanytimebefore theprovisions oftheAgreement areapplied bythedeveloping
country party concerned butislimited andtransitional innature;
Considering thatreservations under paragraphs 4and5oftheProtocol totheCustoms Valuation
Agreement 1979 might remain valid fortheduration ofthedeveloping country party'smembership
oftheAgreement;
Considering thattheAgreement onImplementation ofArticle VIIoftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs
andTrade 1994 (hereinafter referred toasthe"WTO Customs Valuation Agreement") contains
corresponding provisions forspecial anddifferential treatment concerning theinvocation ofdelayed
application andreservations bydeveloping countries;
./.WT/L/38
Page2
Desiring toprovide forthecontinuation ofsuchinvocations stillinforce ofprovisions fordelayed
application andreservations;
decides asfollows:
1. Theperiod fordelayed application, invoked byadeveloping country party under
paragraphs 1and2ofArticle 21oftheCustoms Valuation Agreement 1979 inits
notification ofacceptance, andinforce asfrom thedateofentry intoforce ofthe
Customs Valuation Agreement 1979forthatdeveloping country partyconcerned, shall
continue under theWTO Customs Valuation Agreement forthedeveloping country
party concerned.
2. Reservations made under paragraph 3oftheProtocol totheCustoms Valuation
Agreement 1979shallcontinue toapply under theWTO Customs Valuation Agreement
forthedeveloping country concerned onalimited andtransitional basis under such
terms andconditions ashavebeenagreed bytheCommittee onCustoms Valuation
untilthefirstmeeting oftheCommittee onCustoms Valuation ofthelatter Agreement
where suchterms andconditions maybereviewed.
3. Reservations made under paragraphs 4and5oftheProtocol totheCustoms Valuation
Agreement 1979 byadeveloping country party initsrespective notification of
acceptance shallcontinue toapply under theWTO Customs Valuation Agreement for
thedeveloping country party concerned.