What rights do I have under the WTO when the customs authorities arbitrarily increase the customs value of my imported goods?
The basic principle of the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation is that the customs authorities shall normally accept the transaction value of the goods being imported–the price paid or payable–or, in other words, the invoice price. Only in situations where the customs have reason to doubt the truth or accuracy of the contents of the customs declaration may they ask the importer to provide further explanation, including documents or other evidence that the invoice price is correct.
