USTR CRITICAL OF BRAZILIAN CUSTOMS? VALUATION REGIME

USTR CRITICAL OF BRAZILIAN CUSTOMSÆ VALUATION REGIME    The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has requested World Trade Organization consultations with Brazil regarding its customs system for verifying value of imported goods.
   USTR said Brazil uses its value verification system — in addition to imposing import licensing procedures — to prohibit or restrict imported products with declared values below the minimum prices.
   The agency also believes Brazil’s valuation regime violates the Agreement on Customs Valuation, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and other trade agreements.
   USTR will take comments from the industry regarding Brazilian Customs’ valuation regime until July 31. For more details, contact Sandy McKinzy of the USTR’s Office of the General Counsel at (202) 395-3582.