The WCO conducted a workshop on Customs valuation from 1 to 5 October 2018 for Bahamas Customs in Nassau, Bahamas. This was part of a series of missions under an agreement signed between the WCO and Bahamas Customs and Excise Department (BCED) in March 2018 to provide technical assistance capacity building (TACB) support in a comprehensive organizational development and training program aimed at strengthening customs management.
20 officials participated in the sessions which included a range of topics including the background and history to the WTO Customs Valuation Agreement, the principles of transaction value and other valuation methods and an overview of the WCO’s Revenue Package programme, focusing on the tools developed to assist in the strengthening of valuation controls. The workshop involved a number of exercises and discussion groups. Co-facilitating with the lead expert from the WCO was a WCO-accredited Expert Trainer on Customs Valuation from Latvian Customs.
Bahamas currently has observer status at the World Trade Organization and is working towards becoming a full Member. As a condition of WTO membership, it is necessary to adopt and implement all relevant agreements of the WTO which includes the Customs Valuation Agreement and the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
A follow up activity is planned under this programme to strengthen Bahamas Customs capacity to deliver Customs Valuation training.