. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/VAL/N/3/CRI/1
1 February 2002
(02-0507)
Committee on Customs Valuation Original:  Spanish
NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE DECISIONS A.3 AND A.4 CONCERNING THE
INTERPRETATION OF THE AGREEMENT ON IMPLEMENTATION
OF ARTICLE VII OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT
ON TARIFFS AND TRADE 1994
COSTA RICA
The following information, dated 25 January 2002, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of Costa Rica.
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In conformity with the procedures established by the Committee on Customs Valuation in
Section A.3 of document G/VAL/5, we submit herewith the Government of Costa Rica's notification
concerning the treatment of interest charges in the customs value of imported goods.
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Pursuant to the Decision adopted by the Committee on Customs Valuation on the treatment of
interest charges in the customs value of impor ted goods (G/VAL/6/Rev.1), adopted by the Tokyo
Round Committee on 26 April 1984 (G/VAL/M/9, paragraph 38) and rectified (French and Spanishversions only) by the said Committee on 24 September 1984 (VAL/M/10, paragraph 17), and in
compliance with the Decision on notification and circulation of national legislation adopted by the
Committee on Customs Valuation on 12 May 1995 (G/VAL/5), the Government of Costa Rica hereby
notifies that the Decision in question has been applied since Tuesday, 5 September 2000.
The said Decision is contained in Article 256 of Law No. 8013, published in Special Section
No. 57-A of the official journal "La Gaceta" of 5 September 2000, which reads as follows:
"Article 256:  Treatment of Interest Charges
Charges for interest under a financing agreement entered into by the buyer and
relating to the purchase of imported goods shall not be regarded as part of the customs value
provided that:
(a) The charges are distinguished from the price actually paid or payable for the goods;(b) the financing arrangement was made in writing;(c) where required, the buyer can demonstrate that:G/VAL/N/3/CRI/1
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(i) such goods are actually sold at the price declared as the price actually paid or 
payable;
(ii) the claimed rate of interest does not exceed the level for such transactions 
prevailing in the country where, and at the time when, the finance was provided."
The provisions of this Article shall apply if the buyer, a banking institution or another natural
or legal person provides the financing.  It shall also apply, if appropriate, where goods are valued
under a method other than the transaction value."
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