Contemporary Application of Article 17 of the Customs Valuation Agreement in Latin American Countries

This study addresses the contemporary application of Article 17 of the Customs Valuation Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO) by Latin American countries. The methodology comprised a literature review on the subject, an interview with the co-author of A Handbook on the WTO Customs Valuation Agreement , and a questionnaire distributed to specialists from customs administrations in Latin America. The study identified differences in national regulations, procedures and approaches to constructing and utilising databases. A common finding was significant difficulties in implementing the Agreement, particularly when doubts arise regarding the truth or accuracy of declared values. Finally, the study highlights opportunities for enhancing customs valuation controls by continuously building the capacity of competent authorities and implementing modernisation tools.