WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONRESTRICTED
WT/TPR/S/135
14 June 2004
(04-2484)
Trade Policy Review Body
TRADE POLICY REVIEW
SURINAME
Report by the Secretariat
This report, prepared for the first Trade Policy Review of Suriname, has been
drawn up by the WTO Secretariat on its own responsibility. The Secretariat has,
as required by the Agreement establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism
(Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade
Organization), sought clarification from the Government of Suriname on its
trade policies and practices.
Any technical questions arising from this report may be addressed to
Mr. Karsten Steinfatt (tel. 022 739 6759), Mr. Mark Koulen (tel. 022 739 5224)
and Mr. Raymundo Valdés (tel. 022 739 5346).
Document WT/TPR/G/135 contains the policy statement submitted by the
Government of Suriname.
Note: This report is subject to restricted circulation and press embargo until the end of the meeting
of the Trade Policy Review Body on Suriname.Suriname WT/TPR/S/135
Page iii
CONTENTS
Page
SUMMARY OBSERVATIONS xi
(1) I NTRODUCTION xi
(2) E CONOMIC ENVIRONMENT xi
(3) T RADE AND INVESTMENT POLICY FRAMEWORK xi
(4) M ARKET ACCESS IN GOODS xii
(5) O THER MEASURES AFFECTING TRADE xiii
(6) S ECTORAL POLICIES xiii
I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 1
(1) O VERVIEW 1
(2) M AINECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS 1
(i) Structure, output, and employment 1
(ii) Fiscal policy 5
(iii) Monetary and exchange rate policies 6
(iv) Balance of payments 8
(3) D EVELOPMENTS IN TRADE 10
(i) Composition of trade 10
(ii) Direction of trade 10
(4) D EVELOPMENTS IN INVESTMENT 13
(5) O UTLOOK 13
II. TRADE POLICY REGIME: FRAMEWORK AND OBJECTIVES 14
(1) O VERVIEW 14
(2) T RADE POLICY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION 15
(i) General legal and institutional framework 15
(ii) Trade policy objectives and implementation 17
(3) F OREIGN INVESTMENT REGIME 20
(i) General framework 20
(ii) Investment provisions in CARICOM and other international agreements 23
(4) I NTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 24
(i) World Trade Organization 24
(ii) Preferential agreements 26
(iii) Other arrangements 28
(5) T RADE -RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 29
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 30
(1) O VERVIEW 30
(2) M EASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING IMPORTS 31
(i) Procedures 31
(ii) Customs valuation 32
(iii) Tariffs and other charges 33
(iv) Other charges affecting imports 37WT/TPR/S/135 Trade Policy Review
Page iv
Page
(v) Rules of origin 38
(vi) Import prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing 38
(vii) Contingency measures 41
(viii) Standards and technical regulations 42
(ix) Sanitary and phytosanitary measures 43
(3) M EASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING EXPORTS 44
(i) Procedures 44
(ii) Export taxes, charges, levies and minimum prices 45
(iii) Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing 45
(iv) Duty and tax concessions 47
(v) Export promotion, finance, insurance, and guarantees 47
(vi) Measures applied in third markets 48
(4) M EASURES AFFECTING PRODUCTION AND TRADE 48
(i) Business registration and licensing 48
(ii) Competition policy and price controls 49
(iii) Incentives 51
(iv) Government procurement 51
(v) State-trading, state-owned enterprises, and privatization 52
(vi) Intellectual property rights 53
IV. TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR 56
(1) O VERVIEW 56
(2) A GRICULTURE ANDFOOD PROCESSING 57
(i) Features 57
(ii) Policy objectives for the sector 60
(iii) Key subsectors 61
(3) F ORESTRY 66
(4) M INING ANDMINERAL PROCESSING 69
(i) Regulatory framework 69
(ii) Main products 71
(5) O THER MANUFACTURING 75
(6) E LECTRICITY 75
(7) S ERVICES 77
(i) Features 77
(ii) Commitments under international agreements 77
(iii) Financial services 79
(iv) Telecommunications 84
(v) Transport 87
(vi) Tourism 92Suriname WT/TPR/S/135
Page v
CHARTS
Page
I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
I.1 Price of alumina, 1980-00 4
I.2 Merchandise trade by product, 1997 and 2002 11
I.3 Merchandise trade by main origin and destination, 1997 and 2002 12
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE
III.1 Frequency distribution of MFN tariff rates, 2003 36
TABLES
I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
I.1 Basic economic indicators, 1998-02 2
I.2 Employment by sector, 1997-02 3
I.3 Central Government finances, 1998-02 5
I.4 Trade-related fiscal revenue, 1998-02 6
I.5 Balance of payments, 1998-02 8
II. TRADE POLICY REGIME: FRAMEWORK AND OBJECTIVES
II.1 Selected notifications to the WTO, April 2004 24
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE
III.1 Summary analysis of Suriname's applied tariff, early 2004 34
III.2 Import restrictions, April 2004 39
III.3 Trade restrictions and licensing requirements on exports, April 2004 46
III.4 Membership in intellectual property protection treaties, April 2004 53
III.5 Overview of IPR protection, April 2004 54
IV. TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR
IV.1 Agricultural production in Suriname, 1995-03 58
IV.2 Suriname’s major agricultural exports, 1995-02 59
IV.3 Rice exports from Suriname, 1995-00 62
IV.4 Production of bananas in Suriname, 1992-01 63
IV.5 World imports of bananas from Suriname, 1993-02 63
IV.6 Fish production in Suriname, 1993-01 64
IV.7 Imports (c.i.f.) of fish from Suriname by destination, 1993-02 65
IV.8 Bauxite production, 1996-03 72
IV.9 Summary of Suriname's commitments under the GATS 77
IV.10 Structure of the banking system, 2002 80
IV.11 Distribution of bank credit by sector, 1998-02 80
IV.12 Banking prudential regulation, April 2004 82
IV.13 Telesur's charges for fixed and mobile services, 2004 85Suriname WT/TPR/S/135
Page vii
GLOSSARY
ABS Algemene bepalingen voor de uitvoering en de aanbesteding van
werken onder beheer van het Department van Openbare Werken en
Verkeer in Suriname
Accounting Decision Landsbesluit van 27 augustus 1953 to vaststelling van algemene
voorschriften ter uitvoering van de Comptabiliteitsverordening
(G.B. 1952 No. III, juncto G.B. 1952 No. 125)
Accounting Law Wet van 2 December 1952, regelende de wijze van beheer en
verantwoording van de geldmiddelen in Suriname (G.B. 1952 no. 111)
gelijk zij luidt na de daarin aangebrachte wijzigingen bij G.B. no 1955,
no. 38, G.B. no. 1969, no. 58
ADS 1996 Aanbestedingsreglement voor diensten in Suriname 1996
Animal Disease Regulation Landesverordening van 3 april 1954 ter voorkoming en bestrijding van
dierziekten
Annual Government Policy
SpeechJaarrede van de President van de Republiek Suriname
Auditor Office Rekenkamer
Aviation Law 1935 Surinaams Luchtvaartbesluit 1935, zoals gewijzigd bij G.B. 1937
No.33. Algemene bepalingen voor de Burgerlijke Luchtvaart in
Suriname
AWS 1996 Aanbestedingsreglement voor werken in Suriname 1996
Bank Law Wet van 10 october 1956, tot regeling van het Centrale Bankwezen in
Suriname (g:B. 1956 No.97), gwlijk zij luidt na de daarin aangebrachte
wijzigingen bij G.B. 1963 No. 137, G.B. 1968 No. 63, G.B. 1973 No.26,
S.B. 1981 No.121, S.B. 1983 No.94
Bauxite Institute of
SurinameBauxiet Instituut Suriname
Bauxite Ordinance 1919 Bauxietverordening 1919
Commercial Code Wet van 2 juni 1936, houdende vaststelling van het Surinaams Wetboek
van Koophandel (G.B. 1936 no. 115), gelijk zij luidt na de daarin
aangebrachte wijzigingen bij G.B. 1937 no. 121, G.B. 1944 no. 58, G.B.
1946 no.13, G.B. 1948 no. 16, G.B. 1963 no. 164, G.B. 1970, no. 38,
G.B. 1971 no. 76, G.B. 1975 no.23, S.B. 1983 no.1, S.B. 1983, no. 93
Customs Regulations of
1908Verordening van 25 april 1908 (G.B. No. 63) (geldende tekst G.B. 1939
No. 30) tot vaststelling der formaliteiten in acht te nemen bij in- en
uitvoer, gelijk zijn luidt na de daarin aangebrachte wijzigingen en
aanvullingen, laatstelijk bij de Landsverordening van 9 juni 1969
(G.B. no. 61)
Decision AB 207 Algemene Beschikking No. 207 van de Deviezencommissie, als bedoeld
in artikel 1 van de Deviezenregeling 1947 (G.B. 1947 no. 136, zoals
laatstelijk gewijzigd bij S.B. 1984, No. 104), 30 August 1999WT/TPR/S/135 Trade Policy Review
Page viii
Decision AB 208 Algemene Beschikking No. 208 van de Deviezencommissie, als bedoeld
in artikel 1 van de Deviezenregeling 1947 (G.B. 1947 no 136, zoals
laatstelijk gewijzigd bij S.B. 1984, no. 104.
Decision AB 209 Algemene Beschikking No. 209 van de Deviezencommissie, als bedoeld
in artikel 1 van de Deviezenregeling 1947 (G.B. 1947 no. 136, zoals
laatstelijk gewijzigd bij S.B. 1984, no. 104).
Decision on Rice Exports Rijst Uitvoer Besluit SB 2000 no. 54
Decree of 16 September
1980Decree of 16 September 1980 (Decreet van 16 september 1980,
houdended vaststelling van regels met betrekking tot de prijzen en de
winstmarges van goederen c.q. levensbehoeften of groepen van
goederen c.q. levensbehoeften, welke van belang zijn voor de
volkshuishouding)
Decree on the Control of
ImportsDecreet van 3 December 1981, houdende vaststelling van een regeling
inzake controle op de kwaliteit en kwantiteit van in te voeren goederen
en het maken van prijsvergelijking beterffende deze goederen ("Decreet
Controle Importgoederen")
Decree Regarding
Businesses and Professions
Subject to LicensingDecreet van 15 September 1981, houdende vaststelling van regelen
inzake het verlenen van vergunningen voor het uitoefenen van enig
bedrijf of beroep (Decreet Vergunningen Bedrijven en Beroepen (S.B.
1981 no.145)
EBS N.V. Energiebedrijven Suriname
Firearms Law Vuurwapen-wet (G.B. 1930 no. 73, zoals laatstelijk gewijzigd bij S.B.
1990 no. 1)
Fish Inspection Law Viskeuringswet
Forest Management Law
1992Wet van 18 september 1992, houdende voorzieningen met betrekking tot
het bosbeheer, alsmede de bosexploitatie en de primaire
houtverwerkingssector (Wet Bosbeheer) (S.B. 1992 no.80)
Forest Service Landsbosbeheer (LBB)
Foundation for Forest
Management and
Production ControlStichting voor Bosbeheer en Bostoezicht (SBB)
Geological and Mineral
ServiceGeologische en Mijnbouwkundige Dienst
Hunting Law Jachtwet 1954 (S.B. 1994 no. 54)
Investment law 2001 Wet van 3 juni 2002 houdende bepalingen ter stimulering van
investeringen in Suriname (Investeringswet 2001)
Law of 21 June 1968
Concerning the
Supervision of the Banking
and Credit InstitutionsWet van 21 Juni 1968 houdende algemene regelen betreffende het
Toezicht op het Bank- en Kredietwezen (G.B. 1968 no. 63) , gelijk zij
luidt na d daarin angebrachte wijzigingen bij S.B. 1986 no. 82Suriname WT/TPR/S/135
Page ix
Law of 22 March 1913
concerning New Copyright
RegulationsWet van 22 maart 1913, houdende nieuwe regeling van het auteursrecht
(G.B. 1913 no 15), gelijk zij luidt na de daarin aangebrachte
wijzigingen bij G.B. 1915 no 78, G.B. 1946 no. 2, G.B. 1946 no 77,
G.B.1959 no76, S.B. 1980 no 116, S.B. 1981 no 23
Law on Price Setting and
MonitoringWet van 4 september 1984, houdende vaststelling van nieuwe wettelijke
regels met betrekking tot de prijzen en de winstmarges van goederen,
diensten en huren of groepen van goederen, diensten en huren (Wet
Prijszetting en Prijsbewaking), S.B. 1984 no. 66, gelijk zij luidt na de
daarin aangebrachte wijzigingen bij S.B. 1996 no. 21.
Law on the Movement of
GoodsWet van 8 juli 2003, houdende nieuwe regelen betreffende het
internationale goederenverkeer (Wet Goederenverkeer).
Law on the Safety and
Security of Civil AviationWet van 12 maart 2002, houdende regels betreffende de veiligheid en
de beveiliging van de Burgerluchtvaart in Suriname (Wet Veiligheid en
beveiliging Burgerluchtvaart)
Law on Turnover Tax Wet Omzetbelasting 1997 houdende vaststelling van een algemene
omzetbelasting
Maritime Authority
SurinameMaritieme Autoriteit Suriname
Meat Regulation Landesverordening van 25 maart 1961 houdende bepalingen tot wering
van vlees en vleeswaren, die voor de volkksgezonheid schadelijk zijn
Mining Decree 1986 Decreet van 8 mei 1986, houdende algemene regelen omtrent de
opsporing en ontginning van delfstoffen (Decreet Mijnbouw) (S.B. 1986
no.28)
Narcotics Law Wet Verdovende Middelen (S.B. 1998 no.14)
Negative List Decision Bijlage behorende bij Staatsbesluit van 18 september 2003 ter
uitvoering van de artikelen 3 lid 3 en 8 van de Wet Goederenverkeer
(S.B. 2003 no. 58) (Besluit Negatieve Lijst 2003)
Notification Decision Meldingsbeschikking of 26 September 1983, no. 11838
NVB Nationaal Vervoersbedrijf
Petroleum Law 1990 Wet van 6 maart 1991, houdende nadere regels inzake de opsporing en
ontginning van koolwaterstoffen (S.B.1991 No. 7)
Amendment to the
Petroleum LawWet van 2 oktober 2001, houdende wijziging van de Petroleumwet van
6 maart 1991
Plant Protection Ordinance Wet van 8 september 1965 tot voorkoming en bestrijding van ziekten en
plagen in cultuurgewassen (Plantenbeschermingswet 1965) (G.B. 1965
No. 102), gelijk zij luidt na de daarin aangebrachte wijzigingen bij G.B.
1972 No. 163, S.B. 1980 No. 116
Port Law 1981 Decreet van 24 juni 1981, houdende vaststelling van nieuwe regels
inzake het havenwezen (Decreet Havenwezen 1981)
Public Debt Law Wet van 19 maart 2002, houdende bepalingen inzake het vestigen, het
delgen en het beheer van schuldverplichtingen ten laste van de Staat
(Wet op de Staatsschuld)WT/TPR/S/135 Trade Policy Review
Page x
Raw Materials Decision Staatsbesluit van 29 Mei 1997 ter uitvoering van artikel 47 lid 1 van de
Wet Tarief van Invoerrechten 1996 (Grondstoffenbesluit 1997)
Resolution of 10 October
2003Resolutie van 10 oktober 2003 No. 6942/03, houdende vaststelling
datum van inwerkingtreding van de Wet Goederenverkeer (S.B. 2003
No. 58).
Road Authority Wegenautoriteit
Road Fund Wegenfonds
Royal Decree of 29 August
1912 No. 57, concerning
provisions for trademarksResolutie van 13 Juni 1946 No. 1862, bepalende de plaatsing in het
Gouvernementsblad van den geldenden tekst van het Koninklijk besluit
van 29 Augustus 1912 No. 57 (Staatsblad No. 284, G.B. No. 87),
houdende bepalingen op de fabrieks-en handelsmerken in de Kolonien
en de Hulpbureaux voor den Industrieelen Eigendom
Royal Patent Law Publicatie van 19 april 1969, Kabinet nr. XV/0604, waarbij wordt
afgekondigd de geldende tekst van de Rijksoctrooiwet zoals deze
laatstelijk is gewijzigd bij de Rijkswet van 26 september 1968 Stb. 585.
Ships Registry Regulation Scheepsregisterbesluit
SLM Surinaamse Luchtvaartmaatschappij
SMS Surinaamse Scheepvaartmaatschappij
State Decision of 26 March
1998Staatsbesluit van 26 maart 1998
State Decision of 15 May
1985Staatsbesluit van 15 mei 1985 tot wijziging van het "Besluit
Vergunningplichtige Bedrijven en Beroepen" (S.B. 1981 No. 147);
Staatsbesluit van 14 juni 1993, houdende wijziging van het "Besluit
Vergunningplichtige Bedrijven en Beroepen" (S.B. 1981 no. 147, zoals
gewijzigd bij S.B. 1985 no.40)
State Decision of 15
September 1981Staatsbesluit van 15 september 1981 ter uitvoering van artikel 2, leden
1 en 2, van het "Decreet Vergunningen Bedrijven en Beroepen" (S.B
1981 no. 145). (Besluit Vergunningplichtige Bedrijven en Beroepen)
Suriname Planning Office Stichting Planbureau Suriname
Suriname State Oil
CompanyStaatsoliemaatschappij Suriname N.V.
Suriname Tourism
FoundationStichting Tourisme Suriname
Tariff Import Duties Law Wet van 28 December 1995 houdende vaststelling van een nieuw Tarief
van Invoerrechten (Wet Tarief van Invoerrechten 1996).
Telecommunication
Authority SurinameTelecommunicatie Autoriteit Suriname
Telegraph and Telephone
Act 1945Landesverordening van 26 juli 1945 betreffende aanleg, exploitatie en
gebruik van telegrafen en telefonen.
Trade Register Law Wet van 15 juni 1936 tot instelling van een handelsregister
UWS 1996 Uitvoeringsvoorwaarden voor werken in Suriname 1996Suriname WT/TPR/S/135
Page xi
SUMMARY OBSERVATIONS
(1) INTRODUCTION
1. Since the mid-1990s, Suriname has
made considerable progress towards the
liberalization of its trade regime, both through
autonomous measures and through its
participation in the Caribbean Community and
Common Market (CARICOM). Non-tariff
trade barriers appear low and applied MFN
tariffs have been reduced to an average of
11%, or 13% if account is taken of two fees
levied exclusively on imports. Suriname
maintains various tax exemptions to promote
investment which, however, could distort
resource allocation. Moreover, duties and
foreign exchange surrender requirements still
affect mineral exports. New statutes and other
measures have been adopted to consolidate a
stable institutional and regulatory
environment, which in the past was
undermined by a number of disruptions.
2. Suriname's economy is heavily
dependant on the world economy. It is
susceptible to fluctuations in world markets,
whose effects on output and employment have
been exacerbated by poor macroeconomic
management. Economic growth has been both
modest and erratic, and the current account
and fiscal deficits have remained persistently
high. Sustainable economic growth would
thus require greater coherence in
macroeconomic management; it would also
be important to rationalize state participation
in the economy and, more generally, promote
structural changes leading to a more
entrepreneurial culture and greater market
competition. The stability of Suriname's
reforms would be enhanced by anchoring them
through expanded multilateral commitments.
(2) ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
3. Suriname's average annual GDP
growth over the 1998-02 period was 1.7%, just
higher than the rate of population growth.
Suriname's per capita GDP, at some
US$2,200, has thus been stagnant. Economicgrowth has been erratic over the past two
decades, partly reflecting fluctuations in
export prices, but also poor macroeconomic
management. Efforts to rein-in the fiscal
deficit are being made, with their success
largely contingent on reforming the large
public sector, which accounts for some 17% of
GDP and 60% of total formal sector
employment.
4. Monetary policy has largely
accommodated fiscal policy and, therefore,
has often been ineffective in stabilizing
domestic prices or the foreign exchange rate.
Legal provisions that would strengthen the
Central Bank's authority to limit financing to
the Government are under consideration.
Suriname maintains multiple foreign exchange
rates. The high cost of credit imposes an
important burden on the whole economy.
5. Suriname's current account has
traditionally posted sizeable deficits, largely
financed by development assistance, and
official and private borrowing. The
merchandise trade balance has been positive
since 2000. Mining exports, mostly alumina,
represent just over three quarters of
Suriname's total exports. Imports are largely
machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, and food and beverages.
Suriname's main trading partners are the
European Union and the United States.
(3) TRADE AND INVESTMENT POLICY
FRAMEWORK
6. Suriname's trade policy has changed
significantly in recent years. These changes
are taking place against the backdrop of a
broader process of modernization and
streamlining of Suriname's legal framework,
which suffered serious disruptions in the years
following independence in 1975. A key trade
policy objective is to continue the
liberalization of trade to enhance efficiency
and reduce costs through increased
competition. Suriname also seeks to establish
a trade and investment climate that is
transparent, stable, and as liberal as possibleWT/TPR/S/135 Trade Policy Review
Page xii
while preserving the interest of the Surinamese
economy and its business sector.
7. Suriname became a contracting party
to the GATT in 1978, and is an original
Member of the WTO. It did not participate in
the post-Uruguay Round negotiations on
financial services or telecommunications, but
made commitments on basic
telecommunications in 1998. It has submitted
several notifications to the WTO but others are
pending. Suriname has never been the subject
of, or complainant in, a dispute under the
WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding.
Suriname has no mission in Geneva.
8. Suriname joined CARICOM in 1995
and became a full member of the group's
common market in 1996. Participation in
CARICOM has influenced Suriname's trade
policy. Suriname's tariff schedule has been
based on CARICOM’s common external tariff
since 1995. Suriname grants duty-free access
to all imports originating in CARICOM. In
the context of CARICOM, Suriname will adopt
additional legislation in areas such as
competition policy, anti-dumping, and
consumer protection. Suriname participates
in the FTAA and EU-ACP negotiations as part
of CARICOM.
9. Suriname's participation in trade
negotiations and arrangements, and
compliance with commitments accepted
therein, has been made difficult by its limited
human, technical, and financial resources. In
this respect, the authorities regard as
important the support provided by the
Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery.
Regional cooperation gives greater weight to
Suriname's position and levers its limited
resources, but to maximize these benefits
Suriname would need to devote greater
resources to participate more actively in the
regional process.
10. Suriname's dependence on non-
reciprocal trade preferences is low, with the
bulk of its exports sold in essentially
competitive world markets. As a result, andwith some exceptions, such preferences seem
to have had a limited effect on domestic
production patterns. Thus, present
multilateral efforts to reduce distortions in
global markets, and which may also cut
preferences, could bring significant economic
benefits to Suriname. Those efforts could also
set the stage for Suriname to expand its WTO
commitments in order to advance and anchor
its domestic reform programme.
11. Suriname adopted a new investment
law in 2002. However, existing business
licensing and approval procedures remain
complex and burdensome, and involve a
considerable degree of discretion. In this
respect, the Government has identified the
creation of an enabling climate for investors
as one of the main principles of its policy to
promote sustainable development. Efforts in
this area are crucial because net FDI flows
into Suriname have been consistently negative
in recent years.
(4) MARKET ACCESS IN GOODS
12. Since the mid 1990s, Suriname has
been gradually reforming various trade
instruments, resulting in an increasingly open
trade regime. Steps have been taken to
simplify customs procedures and, in practice,
exporters and importers no longer need to
obtain a business licence to operate. Between
1994 and early 2004, Suriname's simple
average applied MFN tariff fell from around
35% to 11%; however, this average increases
to around 13% if account is taken of two taxes
levied exclusively on imports. All applied
tariff rates are ad valorem. Suriname's
nomenclature for the classification of goods
shows numerous inconsistencies with the
Harmonized Commodity Description and
Coding System (HS) 1992, on which it is
based. This limited somewhat the scope of the
analysis of Suriname's tariff structure.
13. Although Suriname's average bound
rate of around 18% is relatively close to the
average applied MFN rate, its tariff bindings
are limited and for a considerable number ofSuriname WT/TPR/S/135
Page xiii
items applied tariffs exceed bound rates,
sometimes by as much as 30 percentage
points. The authorities are intent on
remedying this situation, and in September
2002 Suriname requested authorization to
enter into negotiations to modify its binding
concessions in accordance with Article XXVIII
of GATT 1994. These negotiations are
ongoing.
14. Suriname has taken major steps to
reduce non-tariff barriers to trade. In 1999,
Suriname eliminated an opaque, highly
discretionary, non-automatic licensing system
that applied to all imports (and exports) and
was used to ration foreign exchange and
shield domestic producers from external
competition. Under the new system, imports
(and exports) are free from non-tariff barriers
except to protect national security, public
morality, the environment, and human, animal,
and plant life and health. An automatic
registration requirement maintained for data
collection purposes still applies to imports
(and exports) not subject to licensing.
15. Suriname has never made use of
contingency measures to protect domestic
producers, and there are no regulations
specifying the conditions and procedures for
the introduction of such measures. Efforts are
being made to update the legal framework and
strengthen institutional capacity in the areas
of technical barriers to trade and standards
and phytosanitary measures. These efforts
could also include measures to improve
transparency, which has been somewhat
undermined by the lack of WTO notifications
in both areas.
(5) OTHER MEASURES AFFECTING
TRADE
16. All exports are subject to fees
amounting to 0.6% of their value, except in the
case of bauxite, for which the fees are 2.1%.
Foreign exchange surrender requirements still
affect exports of mineral-related products,
including petroleum and alumina. These
requirements are equivalent to an export tax,because they are applied using an exchange
rate lower than the rate used by commercial
banks.
17. To promote investment, Suriname
maintains duty and other tax exemptions for a
wide variety of imports regardless of whether
the resulting products are subsequently
exported or consumed domestically. The
revenue forgone as a result of such an
investment promotion scheme, and its
distortive effect could be significant,
particularly given Suriname's strained fiscal
position.
18. Competition in the domestic market is
reduced by the presence of several
monopolies, including some in the public
sector, and the complex approval and
registration requirements to operate a
business. The State plays a key role in several
sectors, and progress in privatization has been
scant. Price and mark-up controls are in force
from some basic goods and services. These
features suggest that the current initiative
aimed at establishing a CARICOM
competition policy framework would be an
important complement of Suriname's efforts to
increase competition through trade
liberalization.
19. Suriname is not a signatory to the
WTO Plurilateral Agreement on Government
Procurement. The main law governing public
procurement requires the use of open
tendering procedures in the acquisition of
works, supplies, and transport services by
government agencies, although exceptions are
allowed. The authorities indicate that the
TRIPS Agreement has not yet been
implemented in domestic legislation, but that
draft legislation pertaining to industrial
property is awaiting the approval of
Suriname's National Assembly.
(6) SECTORAL POLICIES
20. Bauxite mining and processing make a
vital contribution to exports and fiscal
revenue, and gold and petroleum areWT/TPR/S/135 Trade Policy Review
Page xiv
becoming increasingly important. A state-
owned company holds a legal monopoly on the
extraction of hydrocarbons. Mining operators
benefit from special fiscal concessions.
Revised mining legislation is to be submitted
to the National Assembly in 2004.
21. Agriculture is significant because of
its contribution to employment and, to a lesser
extent, exports. Rice production has been
closely related to the preferential access to the
European Union market. Gradual but
significant steps have been taken to liberalize
domestic agricultural production in recent
years. Domestic producers are protected
through a tariff-based system, non-automatic
import licensing having been abandoned in
1999. State involvement in production has
been reduced, although it remains large.
22. As in most countries, services is the
largest sector of the economy both in terms of
employment and contribution to GDP. In
practically all areas there is a need for
significant upgrading of infrastructure, better
quality, and more competitive prices. A
number of initiatives have been taken to
modernize and streamline regulations but
progress has been uneven across activities.
Suriname has undertaken few international
services commitments: under the GATS these
concern only tourism and travel services,
transport, and telecommunications.
23. The Surinamese banking system is
highly concentrated, and the State holds equity
in six of the eight banks in operation. The
financial position of the largest banks appears
sound, but the smaller, wholly state-owned
banks have performed poorly. In practice,
foreign participation in both banking and
insurance is limited.24. Telecommunications services are
provided through a state-owned single
supplier. Efforts are being made to adopt the
institutional and legislative changes necessary
for the gradual liberalization of the sector. To
this end, an independent Telecommunication
Authority was created and a new
Telecommunication Act is under preparation.
The new Act would establish a formal limit on
foreign participation in the provision of the
basic infrastructure, while no such formal
limit exists currently. The duopoly foreseen in
Suriname's GATS commitments was ended in
2002 due to problems related to
interconnection conditions. The supply of
electrical energy is also under the monopoly of
a state-owned enterprise.
25. Improving the efficiency and the
physical infrastructure of Suriname's transport
sector is seen as vital to support private sector
growth, and international cooperation efforts
are targeting the development of this sector.
Airport administration is in public hands but
the Government is preparing legislation to
create an independent airport authority. Air
transport services are reserved to firms
substantially owned and effectively controlled
by Surinamese, although foreign suppliers
may provide such services under international
agreements. The management of public ports
is also in state hands, but to support export
growth the authorities are seeking ways to
increase the efficiency of port operations. The
Government is in the process of modernizing
shipping legislation.