The World Customs Organization (WCO) held a bi-national training workshop on Customs Valuation in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, from 12 to 15 February 2020. The workshop was attended by twenty Customs officials from Haiti and twelve from the Dominican Republic, with the majority of participants being operational personnel.

The training focused on the harmonized interpretation and the application of WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation by the two Customs Administrations. In addition, the need to establish operational systems that comply with international standards and combine effective control with trade facilitation was highlighted.

The workshop was aimed at enabling participants to contribute more effectively towards securing uniformity in the application of the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation and in facilitating lawful trade between the two countries.

The training formed part of the Customs sub-component of the Bi-National Trade Programme, sponsored by the European Union through the Caribbean Export Development Agency.  Its aims include enabling the Customs Administrations of Haiti and the Dominican Republic to improve mutual trade facilitation.