RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/PSI/WP/W/7
26June1997
ORGANIZATION(97-2645)
Working Party onPreshipment Inspection
NATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE AGREEMENT ONPRESHIPMENT INSPECTION
Note bytheSecretariat
Following thesuggestion bytheChairman, please findbelow thelistofquestions andissues
raised under thesecond itemoftheagenda ofthemeeting oftheWorking Party onPreshipment
Inspection on13and18June1997.
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I. QUESTIONS RAISED INCONNECTION WITH NATIONAL SUBMISSIONS
Note: Under thisheading, questions asked bydelegations onthenational submissions byother
delegations arelisted. Preliminary answers arerecorded intheminutes ofthemeeting.
1. Questions raised regarding thesubmission byGhana
(a) Doesthelastsentenceofparagraph7ofthewrittensubmissionimplythattheobligations
contained inthePSIAgreement arenotaccepted international obligations?
(b) Does thegovernment ofGhana useprice information provided toPSIcompanies for
thepurpose ofpurchasing goods, andifthatisthecase, toreceive thebestprice
possible?
2. Questions raised regarding thesubmission bythePhilippines
(a) Aretheservices ofPSIcompanies contracted inorder tomeetrevenue collection targets
(required byinternational financial institutions)?
(b) Howdoesthepractice ofhaving arepresentative ofthePSIentity inappeals procedures
oncustoms valuation matters relate tothestatement thatPSIentities arenotinvolved
incustoms revenue collection?
(c) Isthere anymechanism forpunishment orpenalties incaseconfidential business
information isdisclosed byofficials from PSIcompanies?
(d) Oftheonaverage 160cases aweek thatarebrought before theAppeals Committee,
whatportion isinitiated byexporters andwhatportion isinitiated byimporters?
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3. Questions raised regarding thesubmission from Peru
(a) IsthePSIsystem inPeruexclusively funded through contributions from importers?
(b) Provide more information about thesystematic procedure forverifying inspection
certificates andabout thekinds ofprocedures thatthisentails.
(c) Providemoreinformationwithregardtoclauseswithinthecontractsreferringtonational
mediation services, and theroleoftheMultisectoral Sub-Commission insuch
mediation.
(d) Isthenational mediation service identical withtheMultisectoral Sub-Commission?
4. Questions raised regarding thesubmission byColombia
(a) ArePSIentities operating inColombia involved inanti-dumping andsafeguard
investigations?
(b) How isthePSIsystem inColombia funded?
(c) Ofthe26%ofgoods inspected in1996, whatwastheproportion between mandatory
andvoluntary PSI?
II. BASKET OFPENDING ISSUES
Note: Theheading "Basket ofPending Issues" includes items raised inthediscussion ofnational
submissions forwhich atleastonedelegation stated thatitwould supply further information.
1. Pending issues inconnection withthesubmission bythePhilippines
(a) Donon-US exports receive faster treatment byPSIcompanies andmore favourable
treatment regarding price verification thanexports from theUnited States?
(b) Purpose ofthe"Technical Committee", asmentioned inthelastparagraph ofthe
background section ofthesubmission bythePhilippines. How doestheTechnical
Committee operate, andwhatareitsformal procedures?
2. Pending issues inconnection withthesubmission byPeru
(a) Involvement ofPSIcompanies incustoms valuation activities.