WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE WT/TPR/M/233/Add.1 ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO 14 October 2010 (10-5290)
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WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE WT/TPR/M/233/Add.1 ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO 14 October 2010 (10-5290) Trade Policy Review Body Original: English/ 14 and 16 September 2010 anglais/ inglés TRADE POLICY REVIEW THE GAMBIA Record of the Meeting Addendum Chairperson: H.E. Mr. Bozkurt Aran (Turkey) This document contains the advance written questions, and replies provided by The Gambia.1 __________________________________________________________________________________ Organe d'examen des politiques commerciales 14 et 16 septembre 2010 EXAMEN DES POLITIQUES COMMERCIALES GAMBIE Compte rendu de la réunion Addendum Président: S.E. M. Bozkurt Aran (Turquie) Le présent document contient les questions écrites communiquées à l'avance et les réponses fournies par la Gambie.1 __________________________________________________________________________________ Órgano de Examen de las Políticas Comerciales 14 y 16 de septiembre de 2010 EXAMEN DE LAS POLÍTICAS COMERCIALES GAMBIA Acta de la reunión Addendum Presidente: Excmo. Sr. Bozkurt Aran (Turquía) En el presente documento figuran las preguntas presentadas anticipadamente por escrito, junto con las respuestas facilitadas por Gambia.1 1 In English only./En anglais seulement./En inglés solamente. WT/TPR/M/233/Add.1 Page 3 REPLIES PROVIDED BY THE GAMBIA TO ADVANCE QUESTIONS UNITED STATES Question 1: Page 11, Paragraph 3: The Secretariat Report states: "A special Commercial Division was established in 2004 at the High Court to deal exclusively with commercial matters, in order to avoid delays encountered in the normal court system. However, due to capacity constraints, this goal has not been achieved and long delays remain in reaching judgement, and its execution, in commercial cases. An Alternative Dispute Resolution system was established in 2008 for settlements out of court, but no details have been made available of how this is working". What steps is The Gambia taking to improve the prosecution of commercial matters in light of the challenges facing the Commercial Division? In the spirit of transparency, please provide details on how the Alternative Dispute Resolution system is working. Answer: The Alternative Dispute Resolution System is governed by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act 2005. The System is managed by a secretariat which is independent in the performance of its functions. It deals with conciliation, arbitration and mediation. The Arbitration Tribunal is composed of a number of arbitrators, determined by the Parties. In the absence of an agreement on the number of arbitrators, the Act provides that "the number shall be three in the case of International Arbitration and one in any other case". The parties also have the right to agree on the procedure to be followed by the Arbitral Tribunal and in the absence of an agreement, the tribunal shall conduct the Arbitration in the manner it considers appropriate. Question 2: When does The Gambia anticipate notifying its Customs Valuation Legislation to the WTO Committee on Customs Valuation? Answer: The Gambia has changed its legislation on valuation of goods by incorporating the WTO Valuation on imported goods, excisable goods, and goods for export in its new Customs and Excise ACT, 2010. In this new legislation, the value of imported goods will be determined in accordance with the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation. The WTO Committee on Customs Valuation will be informed of this development before the end of 2010. Question 3: The Secretariat notes that "The Gambia, with other ECOWAS Member States, is negotiating the introduction of a fifth tariff band, at 35%, based on harmonization of national lists submitted by members, and of national exceptions to the ECOWAS Common Tariff". What is the tariff harmonization implementation schedule? When does The Gambia plan to fully implement the CET? Answer: The introduction of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), adopted in 2006 by the ECOWAS Authority is an ECOWAS programme towards the establishment of a Customs Union. The Gambia started aligning its tariff to the CET in 2006 as part of the harmonisation process. As part of the harmonisation process, the ECOWAS Member States also identified and submitted to the ECOWAS Commission the list of products (classified as Type B list) for which they wish to negotiate and agree under the CET. From these negotiations the need for a fifth band emerged and was adopted by the ECOWAS Authority in 2008 at 35%. Each ECOWAS Member State has also identified and submitted to ECOWAS a list of products proposed for classification under the fifth band. WT/TPR/M/233/Add.1 Page 4 The ECOWAS Member States are currently negotiating, at the regional level, both the Type B lists and products for classification under the fifth band under the CET. The Gambia's full implementation of the CET is tied to the completion of the negotiations under the CET. Question 4: The Secretariat states that "Imported soft drinks and imported beer are subject to higher rates than the corresponding domestic items". Are these excise taxes within the limits of The Gambia's tariff bindings? Answer: The Gambia has bound the importation of soft drinks and beer at 110% in its WTO Schedule of Commitments. The introduction of excise tax of D 5 per litre for soft drink and D 100 per litre for beer in 2010, converted to percentages, would still be within the limits of The Gambia's tariff bindings. Question 5: According to the Secretariat, "The value of imported goods for sales tax purposes is the value including all duties and charges paid on import into The Gambia, and including the value of any incidental services such as packaging, insurance, transportation, guarantee costs or any other services giving rise to commission". Please explain The Gambia's application of sales taxes to imported goods in light of Article III of the GATT. Answer: The Gambia's application of sales tax is in conformity with Article III of GATT. The Gambia's application of sales taxes on goods imported into the country is based on the application of the designated rate on the sales tax value which includes all duties, charges, and incidental services connected to the importation. Question 6: Page 32, Paragraph 31: The Secretariat Report states that provisional measures may be taken 60 days after the start of any investigation. Please confirm that provisional measures may not be imposed before the advisory committee finds, at least on a preliminary basis, that the goods are dumped or subsidized and that these dumped or subsidized imports are causing injury, threat of injury or material retardation of an industry in The Gambia. Answer: The Gambia confirms that provisional measures will not be taken before findings of the Advisory Committee as the measures are to be based on the preliminary findings of the Committee that the goods are dumped or subsidized and that the dumped or subsidized imports are causing injury or threat of injury that can materially retard established industries in The Gambia. Question 7: Page 32, Paragraph 32: The Secretariat Report describes how the Gambian Authorities will determine the amount of the antidumping or countervailing duty to be imposed. Please explain this provision in light of the requirements of Article 2 of the WTO Agreement on Antidumping, which addressed the determination of dumping, or with the Articles 1, 2, 3 and 14 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, which relate to the definition and identification of actionable subsidies and the calculation of the benefit there from. Answer: The Gambia Customs and Excise Act 2010 has provisions for the imposition of an antidumping or countervailing duty, where the Minister is satisfied on the findings of the Advisory Committee that dumped or subsidised product are causing injury or threat of injury that can materially WT/TPR/M/233/Add.1 Page 5 retard established industries in The Gambia. The Act provides that the antidumping duty or countervailing duty shall not exceed the dumping margin, which is in line with the Provision of Article 2 of the WTO Agreement on Antidumping. Question 8: Page 32, Paragraph 34: The Secretariat Report states that the Minister may impose on imports "such conditions or rates of duty (…) deemed necessary to protect The Gambia's interest where the country of importation practices unfair or restrictive trade practices on Gambian goods exported to that country". Please explain such action in light of The Gambia's WTO obligations. Has this provision ever been invoked? If so, please explain the circumstances under which duties or other "conditions" have been imposed on imports. In those instances, what were the "unfair or restrictive" trade practices by the country to which Gambian goods were exported? Answer: The unfair trade practices referred to are mainly export subsidies that cause injury or threaten to cause injury to producers of the exported similar products. The Gambia has not yet invoked this provision on any imports. Question 9: Pages 33-34, Paragraphs 36-40: Please explain The Gambia's import prohibitions as well as its conditional and licensing restrictions. How and on what basis are products assigned to these lists? Answer: The Eighth Schedule of The Gambia's Customs and Excise Act 2010 has clearly specified goods that are subject to outright prohibitions and those that are subject to conditional restrictions by obtaining the necessary authorization from the relevant Authorities. Therefore, all importations into The Gambia have