（精選）馬拉喀什建立世界貿(mào)易組織協(xié)定——附件1A：貨物貿(mào)易多邊協(xié)定——裝運前檢驗協(xié)定

1、【法規(guī)分類號】W82001199424【標(biāo)題】馬拉喀什建立世界貿(mào)易組織協(xié)定附件：貨物貿(mào)易多邊協(xié)定裝運前檢驗協(xié)定【時效性】有效【簽訂地點】馬拉喀什【簽訂日期】1994.04.15【生效日期】1994.05.15【失效日期】【內(nèi)容分類】【文號】【題注】關(guān)于附件的總體解釋性說明：如年關(guān)稅與貿(mào)易總協(xié)定的條款與建立世界貿(mào)易組織協(xié)定（附件所列各協(xié)定中稱“協(xié)定”）附件中另一協(xié)定的條款產(chǎn)生抵觸，則以該另一協(xié)定的條款為準?！菊摹扛鞒蓡T，注意到部長們于年月日同意，烏拉圭回合多邊貿(mào)易談判旨在“進一步放寬和擴大世界貿(mào)易”、“加強的作用”以及“增加體制對不斷演變的國際經(jīng)濟環(huán)境的反應(yīng)能力”；注意到一些發(fā)展中國家成員求助

2、于裝運前檢驗；認識到發(fā)展中國家需要在核實進口貨物的質(zhì)量、數(shù)量或價格所必需的時間和限度內(nèi)采取該做法；注意到此類程序的實施不得造成不必要的遲延或不公平的待遇；注意到此種檢驗根據(jù)定義是在出口成員的領(lǐng)土內(nèi)實施的；認識到需要制定有關(guān)用戶成員和出口成員權(quán)利和義務(wù)的議定的國際框架；認識到 的原則和義務(wù)適用于成員政府授權(quán)的裝運前檢驗實體的活動；認識到宜使裝運前檢驗實體的經(jīng)營及與裝運前檢驗相關(guān)的法律、法規(guī)具有透明度；期望迅速、有效和公正地解決出口商和裝運前檢驗實體之間在本協(xié)定項下產(chǎn)生的爭端；特此協(xié)議如下：第條 范圍定義本協(xié)定適用于在各成員領(lǐng)土內(nèi)實施的所有裝運前檢驗活動，無論此類活動是由一成員的政府還是由任何政府

3、機構(gòu)簽約或授權(quán)的。“用戶成員”指政府或任何政府機構(gòu)簽約或授權(quán)使用裝運前檢驗活動的成員。裝運前檢驗活動指與對將出口至用戶成員領(lǐng)土的貨物的質(zhì)量、數(shù)量、價格，包括匯率和融資條件，和或海關(guān)歸類進行核實有關(guān)的所有活動?！把b運前檢驗實體”指由一成員簽約或授權(quán)實施裝運前檢驗活動的任何實體。（注）注：各方理解，本規(guī)定并不要求各成員有義務(wù)允許其他成員的政府實體在其領(lǐng)土內(nèi)實施裝運前檢驗活動。第條 用戶成員的義務(wù)非歧視用戶成員應(yīng)保證裝運前檢驗活動以非歧視的方式實施、在實施這些活動中使用的程序和標(biāo)準是客觀的，且對受此類活動影響的所有出口商平等適用。用戶成員應(yīng)保證其簽約或授權(quán)的裝運前檢驗實體的所有檢驗人員統(tǒng)一執(zhí)行檢驗。

4、政府要求用戶成員應(yīng)保證在進行與其法律、法規(guī)和要求相關(guān)的裝運前檢驗活動的過程中，在第條第款的規(guī)定與此有關(guān)的情況下，應(yīng)遵守這些規(guī)定。檢驗地點用戶成員應(yīng)保證所有裝運前檢驗活動，包括簽發(fā)檢驗結(jié)果清潔報告書或不予簽發(fā)的通知書，均應(yīng)在貨物出口的關(guān)稅領(lǐng)土內(nèi)進行，如因所涉及的產(chǎn)品性質(zhì)復(fù)雜而無法在該關(guān)稅領(lǐng)土內(nèi)實施檢驗，或如果雙方同意，則可在制造該貨物的關(guān)稅領(lǐng)土內(nèi)進行。標(biāo)準用戶成員應(yīng)保證關(guān)于數(shù)量和質(zhì)量的檢驗應(yīng)依照買賣雙方在購貨合同中規(guī)定的標(biāo)準實施，如無此類標(biāo)準，則適用有關(guān)國際標(biāo)準（注）。注：國際標(biāo)準指成員資格對所有成員開放的政府或非政府機構(gòu)采用的標(biāo)準，其公認的活動之一是在標(biāo)準化領(lǐng)域。透明度用戶成員應(yīng)保證裝運前檢驗

5、活動以透明的方式實施。用戶成員應(yīng)保證在出口商最初接洽裝運前檢驗實體時，該實體向出口商提供一份出口商遵守檢驗要求所必需的全部信息的清單。如出口商提出請求，則裝運前檢驗實體應(yīng)提供實際信息。該信息應(yīng)包括用戶成員與裝運前檢驗活動有關(guān)的法律和法規(guī)，還應(yīng)包括用于檢驗及價格和匯率核實目的的程序和標(biāo)準、出口商相對檢驗實體的權(quán)利以及根據(jù)第款制定的上訴程序?，F(xiàn)有程序的額外程序性要求或變更不得適用于裝運貨物，除非在安排檢驗日期時已將這些變更通知有關(guān)出口商。但是，在第條和第條所處理類型的緊急情況下，此類額外要求或變更可在通知出口商之前對裝運貨物實施。但是此援助并不免除出口商在遵守用戶成員的進口法規(guī)方面的義務(wù)。用戶成員

6、應(yīng)保證本條第款所指的信息應(yīng)以方便的方式使出口商獲得，裝運前檢驗實體設(shè)立的檢驗辦公室應(yīng)作為信息點，在其中可獲得此信息。用戶成員應(yīng)以能夠使其他政府和貿(mào)易商知曉的方式，迅速公布與裝運前檢驗活動有關(guān)的所有適用法律和法規(guī)。機密商業(yè)信息的保護用戶成員應(yīng)保證裝運前檢驗實體應(yīng)將在實施裝運前檢驗過程中收到的所有未經(jīng)公布、第三方不能普遍獲得或在公共領(lǐng)域不能普遍獲得的信息視為商業(yè)機密。用戶成員應(yīng)保證其裝運前檢驗實體為此保留程序。應(yīng)請求，用戶成員應(yīng)向各成員提供其為實施第款而采取措施的信息。本款規(guī)定不得要求任何成員披露會危害裝運前檢驗計劃的有效性或損害特定公私企業(yè)的合法商業(yè)利益的機密信息。用戶成員應(yīng)保證裝運前檢驗實體不

7、對任何第三方泄露機密商業(yè)信息，但是裝運前檢驗實體同與其簽約或其授權(quán)進行檢驗的政府實體分享該信息的情況除外。用戶成員應(yīng)保證它們自與其簽約或向其授權(quán)進行檢驗的裝運前檢驗實體收到的機密商業(yè)信息得到充分保護。裝運前檢驗實體只有在機密信息為信用證或其他支付方式或由于通關(guān)、進口許可或外匯管制的目的而通常需要的情況下，方可同與其簽約或其授權(quán)進行檢驗的政府實體分享此類信息。用戶成員應(yīng)保證裝運前檢驗實體不要求出口商提供有關(guān)下列內(nèi)容的信息：（）與已獲專利、已獲許可或未披露的方法有關(guān)、或與正在申請專利的方法有關(guān)的制造數(shù)據(jù)；（）未公布的技術(shù)數(shù)據(jù)，但為證明符合技術(shù)法規(guī)或標(biāo)準所必需的數(shù)據(jù)除外；（）內(nèi)部定價，包括生產(chǎn)成本；

8、（）利潤水平；（）出口商與其供應(yīng)商之間的合同條款，除非其他方法無法使實體進行所涉檢驗。在此種情況下，實體應(yīng)只要求為此目的所必需的信息。對于第款所指的信息，裝運前檢驗實體不得另行要求提供，但出口商為說明一特定情況可自愿發(fā)布。利益沖突用戶成員應(yīng)保證裝運前檢驗實體保留程序以避免以下各方之間的利益沖突，同時記住第款至第款有關(guān)保護機密商業(yè)信息的規(guī)定：（）在裝運前檢驗實體與任何與所涉裝運前檢驗實體有關(guān)的實體之間，包括裝運前檢驗實體在其中有財務(wù)或商業(yè)利益的任何實體，或在所涉裝運前檢驗實體中有財務(wù)利益且其裝運貨物將由該裝運前檢驗實體進行檢驗的任何實體；（）在裝運前檢驗實體與其他任何實體之間，包括需進行裝運前檢

9、驗的其他實體，但是簽約或授權(quán)進行檢驗的政府實體除外；（）在裝運前檢驗實體內(nèi)部從事除要求實施檢驗程序之外的其他活動的各部門之間。遲延用戶成員應(yīng)保證裝運前檢驗實體在檢驗裝運貨物時避免無理遲延。用戶成員應(yīng)保證，一旦裝運前檢驗實體與出口商商定檢驗日期，裝運前檢驗實體即應(yīng)在該日期進行檢驗，除非在出口商和裝運前檢驗實體雙方同意的基礎(chǔ)上重新安排日期，或裝運前檢驗實體被出口商或不可抗力（注）妨礙無法實施檢驗。注：各方理解，就本協(xié)定而言，“不可抗力”指“使合同無法履行的不可抗拒的強制或強迫、無法預(yù)料的事物的趨勢”。用戶成員應(yīng)保證，在收到最終單證和完成檢驗后，裝運前檢驗實體在個工作日內(nèi)簽發(fā)檢驗結(jié)果清潔報告書，或提

10、供詳細書面說明列明不予簽發(fā)的理由。用戶成員應(yīng)保證，在后一種情況下，裝運前檢驗實體應(yīng)給予出口商提交書面意見的機會，如出口商提出請求，應(yīng)在雙方方便的最早日期安排復(fù)驗。用戶成員應(yīng)保證，只要出口商提出請求，裝運前檢驗實體承諾在實際檢驗日期前，根據(jù)出口商和進口商之間的合同、形式發(fā)票以及適用的關(guān)于進口授權(quán)的申請，對價格和在適用的情況下對匯率進行初步核實。用戶成員應(yīng)保證，只要貨物與進口單證和或進口許可證相符，即不撤消裝運前檢驗實體在該初步核實基礎(chǔ)上已接受的價格或匯率。它們應(yīng)保證，在進行初步核實后，裝運前檢驗實體應(yīng)立即以書面形式通知出口商它們接受價格和或匯率或不予接受的詳細原因。用戶成員應(yīng)保證，為避免支付的遲

11、延，裝運前檢驗實體應(yīng)盡快將檢驗結(jié)果清潔報告書送交出口商或出口商的指定代表。用戶成員應(yīng)保證，如檢驗結(jié)果清潔報告出現(xiàn)筆誤，則裝運前檢驗實體應(yīng)盡快更正錯誤，并將更正的信息送交有關(guān)方。價格核實用戶成員應(yīng)保證，為防止高報價、低報價和欺詐，裝運前檢驗實體應(yīng)根據(jù)下列準則實施價格核實（注）：注：在裝運前檢驗實體與海關(guān)估價有關(guān)的服務(wù)方面，用戶成員的義務(wù)應(yīng)為它們在協(xié)定附件所列和其他多邊貿(mào)易協(xié)定中所接受的義務(wù)。（）裝運前檢驗實體只有在它們能夠證明其關(guān)于價格不符合要求的調(diào)查結(jié)果是根據(jù)符合（）至（）項所列標(biāo)準的核實程序作出的，方可拒絕出口商和進口商之間議定的合同價格；（）裝運前檢驗實體為核實出口價格而進行的價格比較應(yīng)根

12、據(jù)在相同或大致相同時間、根據(jù)競爭和可比的銷售條件、符合商業(yè)慣例的自同一出口國供出口的相同或類似貨物的一個或多個價格進行，并扣除任何適用的標(biāo)準折扣。該比較應(yīng)根據(jù)下列規(guī)定：（）僅使用可提供有效比較基礎(chǔ)的價格，同時考慮與進口國和用以進行價格比較的一個或多個國家有關(guān)的經(jīng)濟因素；（）裝運前檢驗實體不得依靠供出口到不同進口國的貨物的價格而對裝運貨物任意強加最低價格；（）裝運前檢驗實體應(yīng)考慮（）項所列的特定因素；（）在上述程序的任何階段，裝運前檢驗實體應(yīng)向出口商提供對價格進行說明的機會；（）在實施價格核實時，裝運前檢驗實體應(yīng)適當(dāng)考慮銷售合同的條款和與交易有關(guān)的普遍適用的調(diào)整因素；這些因素應(yīng)包括但不僅限于：銷

13、售的商業(yè)水平和銷售數(shù)量、交貨期和交貨條件、價格升級條款、質(zhì)量標(biāo)準、特殊設(shè)計特征、特殊裝運或包裝規(guī)格、訂貨數(shù)量、現(xiàn)貨銷售、季節(jié)影響、許可費或其他知識產(chǎn)權(quán)費以及作為合同一部分提供的、但未按通常做法單獨開列發(fā)票的服務(wù)；還應(yīng)包括與出口商價格有關(guān)的某些因素，如出口商與進口商之間的合同關(guān)系等；（）運輸費用的核實應(yīng)僅與銷售合同中列明的、出口國中運輸方式的議定價格有關(guān)；（）下列因素不得用于價格核實目的：（）進口國生產(chǎn)的貨物在該國的銷售價格；（）來自出口國以外一國供出口貨物的價格；（）生產(chǎn)成本；（）任意的或虛構(gòu)的價格或價值。上訴程序用戶成員應(yīng)保證裝運前檢驗實體制定程序以接受和考慮出口商提出的不滿意見并對此作出決

14、定，用戶成員還應(yīng)依照第款和第款的規(guī)定使出口商可獲得有關(guān)此類程序的信息。用戶成員應(yīng)保證依據(jù)下列準則制訂和保留此類程序：（）裝運前檢驗實體應(yīng)指定一名或多名官員，在正常的營業(yè)時間內(nèi)，在設(shè)立裝運前檢驗管理辦公室的每一城市或每一港口接收、考慮出口商的申訴或不滿意見，并對此作出決定；（）出口商應(yīng)以書面形式向指定的一名或多名官員提供所涉具體交易的事實、不滿意見的性質(zhì)以及建議的解決辦法；（）指定的一名或多名官員對出口商的不滿意見應(yīng)給予積極考慮，并應(yīng)在收到（）項所指的文件后盡快作出決定。背離作為對第條規(guī)定的背離，用戶成員應(yīng)規(guī)定，除分批裝運外，如裝運貨物的價值低于用戶成員規(guī)定的適用于該批貨物的最低價值，則不得對其

15、進行檢驗，但特殊情況除外。此最低價值應(yīng)成為根據(jù)第款規(guī)定向出口商提供信息的一部分。第條 出口成員的義務(wù)非歧視出口成員應(yīng)保證其與裝運前檢驗活動有關(guān)的法律和法規(guī)以非歧視的方式實施。透明度出口成員應(yīng)以能夠使其他政府和貿(mào)易商知曉的方式，迅速公布所有與裝運前檢驗活動有關(guān)的適用法律和法規(guī)。技術(shù)援助如收到請求，出口商應(yīng)按雙方同意的條件向用戶成員提供旨在實現(xiàn)本協(xié)定目標(biāo)的技術(shù)援助。（注）注：各方理解，該技術(shù)援助可在雙邊、諸邊或多邊基礎(chǔ)上提供。第條 獨立審查程序各成員應(yīng)鼓勵裝運前檢驗實體和出口商共同解決雙方的爭端。但是，在依照第條第款的規(guī)定提交不滿意見個工作日后，雙方中每一方均可將爭端提交進行獨立審查。各成員應(yīng)采取

16、其所能采取的合理措施以保證為此制定和保留下列程序：（）就本協(xié)定而言，這些程序應(yīng)由一代表裝運前檢驗實體的組織和一代表出口商的組織聯(lián)合組成的獨立實體管理；（）（）項所指的獨立實體應(yīng)制定下列專家名單：（）由一代表裝運前檢驗實體的組織提名的一組成員；（）由一代表出口商的組織提名的一組成員；（）由（）項所指的獨立實體提名的一組獨立貿(mào)易專家。此名單中專家的地理分布應(yīng)能使任何根據(jù)此程序提出的爭端得到迅速處理。該名單應(yīng)在協(xié)定生效起個月內(nèi)制定并每年進行更新。該名單應(yīng)可公開獲得，并應(yīng)通知秘書處，并散發(fā)所有成員；（）希望提出爭端的一出口商或一裝運前檢驗實體應(yīng)與（）項所指的獨立實體聯(lián)系，并要求組成專家組。獨立實體應(yīng)負

17、責(zé)設(shè)立專家組。專家組應(yīng)由名成員組成。專家組成員的選擇應(yīng)避免不必要的費用和遲延。第一名成員應(yīng)由有關(guān)裝運前檢驗實體自上述名單的（）組中選出，只要該成員不附屬于該實體。第二名成員應(yīng)由有關(guān)出口商自上述名單的（）組中選出，只要該成員不附屬于該出口商。第三名成員應(yīng)由（）項所指的獨立實體自上述名單的（）組中選出。不得對自上述名單的（）組中選出的任何獨立貿(mào)易專家提出異議；（）自上述名單的（）組中選出的獨立貿(mào)易專家應(yīng)擔(dān)任專家組主席。獨立貿(mào)易專家應(yīng)作出必要的決定，以保證專家組迅速解決爭端，例如決定案件的事實是否要求專家組成員召開會議，如要求召開會議，決定在哪里召開會議，同時考慮實施所涉檢驗的地點；（）如爭端各方同

18、意，則也可由（）項所指的獨立實體自上述名單的（）組中選出一獨立貿(mào)易專家審查所涉爭端。該專家應(yīng)作出必要的決定，以保證迅速解決爭端，例如考慮實施所涉檢驗的地點；（）審查的對象應(yīng)為確定在進行產(chǎn)生爭端的檢驗過程中，爭端各方是否遵守本協(xié)定的規(guī)定。程序應(yīng)迅速，并為雙方提供機會以便親自或以書面形式提出意見；（）人專家組的決定應(yīng)以多數(shù)票作出。關(guān)于爭端的決定應(yīng)在提出獨立審查的請求后的個工作日內(nèi)作出，并告知爭端各方。時限可經(jīng)爭端各方同意而予以延長。專家組或獨立貿(mào)易專家應(yīng)根據(jù)案件的是非曲直分配費用；（）專家組的決定對屬爭端方的裝運前檢驗實體和出口商具有約束力。第條 通知各成員應(yīng)在協(xié)定對其生效時，向秘書處提交其實施本

19、協(xié)定的法律和法規(guī)的副本，以及與裝運前檢驗有關(guān)的其他法律和法規(guī)的副本。對于與裝運前檢驗有關(guān)的法律和法規(guī)的變更，在未正式公布前不得實施。這些變更在公布后應(yīng)立即通知秘書處。秘書處應(yīng)將該信息的可獲性通知各成員。第條 審議在協(xié)定生效之日起第年年底及此后每年，部長級會議應(yīng)審議本協(xié)定的條款及實施和運用情況，同時考慮本協(xié)定的目標(biāo)及其運用過程中取得的經(jīng)驗。作為此類審議的結(jié)果，部長級會議可修正本協(xié)定的條款。第條 磋商應(yīng)請求，各成員應(yīng)就影響本協(xié)定實施的任何事項與其他成員進行磋商。在此種情況下，應(yīng)適用由爭端解決諒解詳述和適用的第條的規(guī)定。第條 爭端解決成員間有關(guān)本協(xié)定運用的任何爭端應(yīng)遵守由爭端解決諒解詳述和適用的第條

20、的規(guī)定。第條 最后條款各成員應(yīng)為實施本協(xié)定而采取必要措施。各成員應(yīng)保證其法律和法規(guī)不違反本協(xié)定的條款。AGREEMENT ON PRESHIPMENT INSPECTIONANNEX, 1A, OF, ANNEX, 1, OF, MARRAKESH, AGREEMENT, ESTABLISHING, THE, WORLDTRADE, ORGANIZATIONAGREEMENT ON PRESHIPMENT INSPECTIONMembers,Noting that Ministers on 20 September 1986 agreed that the UruguayRound of Mu

21、ltilateral Trade Negotiations shall aim to "bring aboutfurther liberalization and expansion of world trade", "strengthen therole of GATT" and "increase the responsiveness of the GATT system to theevolving international economic environment"Noting that a number of develo

22、ping country Members have recourse topreshipment inspection;Recognizing the need of developing countries to do so for as longand in so far as it is necessary to verify the quality, quantity orprice of imported goods;Mindful that such programmes must be carried out without giving riseto unnecessary d

23、elays or unequal treatment;Noting that this inspection is by definition carried out on theterritory of exporter Members;Recognizing the need to establish an agreed international frameworkof rights and obligations of both user Members and exporter Members;Recognizing that the principles and obligatio

24、ns of GATT 1994 applyto those activities of preshipment inspection entities that are mandatedby governments that are Members of the WTO;Recognizing that it is desirable to provide transparency of theoperation of preshipment inspection entities and of laws and regulationsrelating to preshipment inspe

25、ction;Desiring to provide for the speedy, effective and equitableresolution of disputes between exporters and preshipment inspectionentities arising under this Agreement;Hereby agree as follows:Article 1 Coverage-Definitions1. This Agreement shall apply to all preshipment inspectionactivities carrie

26、d out on the territory of Members, whether suchactivities are contracted or mandated by the government, or anygovernment body, of a Member.2. The term "user Member" means a Member of which the government orany government body contracts for or mandates the use of preshipmentinspection activ

27、ities.3. Preshipment inspection activities are all activities relating tothe verification of the quality, the quantity, the price, includingcurrency exchange rate and financial terms, and/or the customsclassification of goods to be exported to the territory of the userMember.4. The term "preshi

28、pment inspection entity" is any entity contractedor mandated by a Member to carry out preshipment inspection activities.(Notes 1)Notes 1: It is understood that this provision does not obligateMembers to allow government entities of other Members to conductpreshipment inspection activities on th

29、eir territory.Article 2 Obligations of User MembersNon-discrimination1. User Members shall ensure that preshipment inspection activitiesare carried out in a non-discriminatory manner, and that the proceduresand criteria employed in the conduct of these activities are objectiveand are applied on an e

30、qual basis to all exporters affected by suchactivities. They shall ensure uniform performance of inspection by allthe inspectors of the preshipment inspection entities contracted ormandated by them.Governmental Requirements2. User Members shall ensure that in the course of preshipmentinspection acti

31、vities relating to their laws, regulations andrequirements, the provisions of paragraph 4 of Article III of GATT 1994are respected to the extent that these are relevant.Site of Inspection3. User Members shall ensure that all preshipment inspectionactivities, including the issuance of a Clean Report

32、of Findings or anote of non-issuance, are performed in the customs territory from whichthe goods are exported or, if the inspection cannot be carried out inthat customs territory given the complex nature of the productsinvolved, or if both parties agree, in the customs territory in whichthe goods ar

33、e manufactured.Standards4. User Members shall ensure that quantity and quality inspectionsare performed in accordance with the standards defined by the seller andthe buyer in the purchase agreement and that, in the absence of suchstandards, relevant international standards (Notes 2) apply.Notes 2: A

34、n international standard is a standard adopted by agovernmental or non-governmental body whose membership is open to allMembers, one of whose recognized activities is in the field ofstandardization.Transparency5. User Members shall ensure that preshipment inspection activitiesare conducted in a tran

35、sparent manner.6. User Members shall ensure that, when initially contacted byexporters, preshipment inspection entities provide to the exporters alist of all the information which is necessary for the exporters tocomply with inspection requirements. The preshipment inspection entitiesshall provide t

36、he actual information when so requested by exporters.This information shall include a reference to the laws and regulationsof user Members relating to preshipment inspection activities, and shallalso include the procedures and criteria used for inspection and forprice and currency exchange-rate veri

37、fication purposes, the exporters'rights vis-à-vis the inspection entities, and the appeals proceduresset up under paragraph 21. Additional procedural requirements or changesin existing procedures shall not be applied to a shipment unless theexporter concerned is informed of these changes at

38、 the time theinspection date is arranged. However, in emergency situations of thetypes addressed by Articles XX and XXI of GATT 1994, such additionalrequirements or changes may be applied to a shipment before the exporterhas been informed. This assistance shall not, however, relieve exportersfrom th

39、eir obligations in respect of compliance with the importregulations of the user Members.7. User Members shall ensure that the information referred to inparagraph 6 is made available to exporters in a convenient manner, andthat the preshipment inspection offices maintained by preshipmentinspection en

40、tities serve as information points where this informationis available.8. User Members shall publish promptly all applicable laws andregulations relating to preshipment inspection activities in such amanner as to enable other governments and traders to become acquaintedwith them.Protection of Confide

41、ntial Business Information9. User Members shall ensure that preshipment inspection entitiestreat all information received in the course of the preshipmentinspection as business confidential to the extent that such informationis not already published, generally available to third parties, orotherwise

42、 in the public domain. User Members shall ensure thatpreshipment inspection entities maintain procedures to this end.10. User Members shall provide information to Members on request onthe measures they are taking to give effect to paragraph 9. Theprovisions of this paragraph shall not require any Me

43、mber to discloseconfidential information the disclosure of which would jeopardize theeffectiveness of the preshipment inspection programmes or wouldprejudice the legitimate commercial interest of particular enterprises,public or private.11. User Members shall ensure that preshipment inspection entit

44、ies donot divulge confidential business information to any third party, exceptthat preshipment inspection entities may share this information with thegovernment entities that have contracted or mandated them. User Membersshall ensure that confidential business information which they receivefrom pres

45、hipment inspection entities contracted or mandated by them isadequately safeguarded. Preshipment inspection entities shall shareconfidential business information with the governments contracting ormandating them only to the extent that such information is customarilyrequired for letters of credit or

46、 other forms of payment or for customs,import licensing or exchange control purposes.12. User Members shall ensure that preshipment inspection entities donot request exporters to provide information regarding:(a) manufacturing data related to patented, licensed or undisclosedprocesses, or to process

47、es for which a patent is pending;(b) unpublished technical data other than data necessary todemonstrate compliance with technical regulations or standards;(c) internal pricing, including manufacturing costs;(d) profit levels;(e) the terms of contracts between exporters and their suppliersunless it i

48、s not otherwise possible for the entity to conduct theinspection in question. In such cases, the entity shall only request theinformation necessary for this purpose.13. The information referred to in paragraph 12, which preshipmentinspection entities shall not otherwise request, may be releasedvolun

49、tarily by the exporter to illustrate a specific case.Conflicts of Interest14. User Members shall ensure that preshipment inspection entities,bearing in mind also the provisions on protection of confidentialbusiness information in paragraphs 9 through 13, maintain procedures toavoid conflicts of inte

50、rest:(a) between preshipment inspection entities and any related entitiesof the preshipment inspection entities in question, including anyentities in which the latter have a financial or commercial interest orany entities which have a financial interest in the preshipmentinspection entities in quest

51、ion, and whose shipments the preshipmentinspection entities are to inspect;(b) between preshipment inspection entities and any other entities,including other entities subject to preshipment inspection, with theexception of the government entities contracting or mandating theinspections;(c) with divi

52、sions of preshipment inspection entities engaged inactivities other than those required to carry out the inspectionprocess.Delays15. User Members shall ensure that preshipment inspection entitiesavoid unreasonable delays in inspection of shipments. User Members shallensure that, once a preshipment i

53、nspection entity and an exporter agreeon an inspection date, the preshipment inspection entity conducts theinspection on that date unless it is rescheduled on a mutually agreedbasis between the exporter and the preshipment inspection entity, or thepreshipment inspection entity is prevented from doin

54、g so by the exporteror by force majeure. (Notes 3)Notes 3: It is understood that, for the purposes of this Agreement,"force majeure" shall mean "irresistible compulsion or coercion,unforeseeable course of events excusing from fulfilment of contract".16. User Members shall ensure

55、that, following receipt of the finaldocuments and completion of the inspection, preshipment inspectionentities, within five working days, either issue a Clean Report ofFindings or provide a detailed written explanation specifying thereasons for non-issuance. User Members shall ensure that, in the la

56、ttercase, preshipment inspection entities give exporters the opportunity topresent their views in writing and, if exporters so request, arrange forre-inspection at the earliest mutually convenient date.17. User Members shall ensure that, whenever so requested by theexporters, preshipment inspection

57、entities undertake, prior to the dateof physical inspection, a preliminary verification of price and, whereapplicable, of currency exchange rate, on the basis of the contractbetween exporter and importer, the pro forma invoice and, whereapplicable, the application for import authorization. User Members sh