Customs Valuation in India: Identifying Trade Facilitation related Concerns
India has introduced several trade facilitation related measures in the last couple of years. The pro-active strategy adopted by the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has helped in introducing several policy measures which have not only streamlined the role of the customs department but has also helped industry in a major way without compromising collection of revenue.
A Brief Negotiating History of Customs Valuation in the Gatt and WTO
The subject of customs valuation serves as a useful reminder that WTO Members’ efforts to implement meaningful ad valorem duty commitments are only fully effective alongside a universally accepted and ironclad customs valuation agreement. Ad valorem tariffs entail placing a value on an imported good and then taxing said good at a percentage of that value. Therefore, if the value of the good were to vary, whether in the eyes of the exporter or the customs official, the amount of duty paid at the border would vary accordingly. As one can easily imagine, the process of valuing an imported good, if left entirely to the discretion of the levying authority, can and has permitted it to be used as an instrument of protectionism because, obviously, valuing an imported good at an artificially high price results in an artificially high tariff to be paid by the importer.
The etiology and surgical management of tracheal collapse in calves.
The mean ages of 10 calves with tracheal collapse were 2.7 weeks at onset of clinical signs and 9.4 weeks at presentation for treatment. Inspiratory and expiratory dyspnea and stunted growth were the most common clinical signs. There were abnormalities of the cranial ribs consistent with healing fractures with redundant callus in eight lateral thoracic radiographs. Tracheal collapse in calves may result from cranial thoracic trauma during or soon after birth. Short polypropylene ring prostheses made from 60 ml syringe barrels were placed on the tracheas of four calves with cervical tracheal collapse. There were cranial rib masses in all calves and resection of the right first and second ribs was necessary in one calf to allow placement of prostheses. Dyspnea was relieved in all calves. One calf died of unrelated causes in year 3, and one calf had recurrence of clinical signs at month 5 and was euthanatized. In both calves, tracheal stenosis resulted from continued growth and infolding of the trachea within the constraints of the prostheses. One calf was alive at month 11, and one calf died of acute bronchopneumonia on day 2. Removal of tracheal prostheses in calves is recommended after 2 to 3 months if clinical signs recur.