The WCO recently participated in a valuation workshop arranged and funded by the World Trade Organization (WTO), for the benefit of Saint Lucia Customs and Excise department.
Sessions were co-delivered by the WCO and WTO representatives on a range of subjects, inter alia, the background to the WTO Valuation Agreement, a technical analysis of valuation methodology, WTO Disputes settlement procedure (including summaries of two cases focusing on Customs valuation) and practical valuation control issues, including risk management and post-clearance audit.
Participants engaged in active discussions on various topics and procedural questions. A round table session was held at the end of the workshop to summarise the key challenges and issues raised during the week which pointed a way forward for the further development of Saint Lucia’s valuation control programme.