WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/VAL/W/104
21 October 2002
(02-5757)
Committee on Customs Valuation Original:  Spanish
IMPLEMENTATION OF DOHA MINISTERIAL DECISION
CONCERNING EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION UNDER
THE CUSTOMS VALUATION AGREEMENT
Questions from Mexico on India's Paper
The following communication, dated 17 October 2002, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of Mexico.
_______________
With reference to document G/VAL/W/102 and paragraph 8.3 of the Doha Ministerial
Decision on Implementation, Mexico has drawn up a few preliminary questions for India so as to be
able to understand India's proposals more clearly.  The questions listed below are without prejudice to
Mexico's right to revert to the matter at a later stage.
1. Could India explain how the idea of the exporting Member offering cooperation
(paragraph 8.3 of the Decision) is compatible with a binding mechanism, which could prove a
difficult task?
2. Could India explain how it is possible to have  a binding mechanism, comprising the elements
specified by India in its paper, that is consistent with the domestic laws and procedures of all the
Members?
3. Does India expect the Members to amend their laws, if these ultimately prove to be
inconsistent with the agreed mechanism?
4. If the agreement reached in paragraph 8.3 of the Ministerial Decision on implementation-
related issues states that assistance among customs administrations is intended to corroborate the
declared price, why then does India seek other types of information (quantities, origin, for example)
that are not related to price?
5. When India requests verification of the authenticity of a document, what type of document
does it have in mind?  If the reply includes documents not issued by the government, how should the
customs authorities of the exporting country proceed in order to authenticate such documents?
6. As regards the time-frame, what would India consider to be a reasonable time-limit for the
exporting party to furnish the information?
7. In terms of the Members' obligations, what would happen if the customs authorities of the
exporting party were unable, for some reason (e.g. problems relating to domestic legislation, lack of
time), to meet the importing party's request within the agreed time-limit?
__________