./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/VAL/W/48
16 November 1999
(99-4977)
Committee on Customs Valuation Original:  English
RECENT NEW ZEALAND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES
The following communication1, dated 12 November 1999, has been received from the
Permanent Mission of New Zealand with the request that it be circulated.
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New Zealand is conscious of the importance of technical assistance in facilitating the
implementation of the WTO Customs Valuation Ag reement for those Members availing themselves
of the transition periods under Part III of the Agreement.  New Zealand has undertaken and
participated in a number of technical assistance programmes over recent years in relation to customsvaluation issues.  These programmes have largely been in the Asia Pacific region and have been
directed towards a variety of WTO Members and acceding countries.  Technical assistance has been
provided in two main contexts to date:  bilaterally through New Zealand's Overseas Development
Assistance programmes and regionally through APEC activities.  New Zealand will continue to
provide technical assistance on customs valuation and, consistent with Article 20.3 of the Agreementwould hope to continue receiving requests from Members for such assistance.
The technical assistance projects related to customs valuation undertaken by New Zealand
since 1996 are listed below.
1996
The New Zealand Customs Service assisted Fijian customs officials in the preparation of their
relevant customs legislation in New Zealand and then at the expense of the Fijian Government two
New Zealand officers provided several training courses to staff in Suva and Lautoka.
1997
In conjunction with Australia and Canada, New Zealand officials participated in APEC
Customs Valuation workshops held in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Brunei.
A New Zealand representative also attended a Pacific regional seminar in Fiji on
implementation of the WTO Customs Valuation Agreement.
1999
APEC Training Module One  (organized by the APEC Sub Committee on Customs Procedures) was
delivered to Chinese Taipei and Papua New Guinea in conjunction with the United States and also to
Vietnam.
                                                     
1 Circulated informally at the meeting of the Committee on Customs Valuation on 26 April 1999.G/VAL/W/48
Page 2
APEC Training Module Two  was delivered to Papua New Guinea and Vietnam in conjunction with
staff from Revenue Canada.
APEC Training Module Three  was delivered to Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Brunei.
In February and March of this year, under the auspices of the ASEAN-New Zealand
Economic Cooperation Programme, New Zealand provided training on the WTO Customs Valuation
Agreement to the Customs authorities of Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar.  Similar training was provided
to Cambodia in October and November of this year.
New Zealand is currently investigating further training opportunities within the Asia Pacific
area.
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