VI. Trade regulations and standards Tariffs and import taxes: Imports are subject to the CARICOM common external tariff (cet) which, for dutiable items, now stands at 5 to 35 percent of cif value. Further reductions will be made in yearly stages to 5 - 20 percent by January 1, 1998. Currently, Trinidad and Tobago levies a 5 to 10 percent stamp tax on the cif value of imports. Goods that previously benefitted from negative list protection are subject to supplementary import surcharges of 5 to 15 percent. However, the import surcharge and the stamp duty will be reduced to zero on January 1, 1995. A 15-percent value added tax (vat) is collected on all retail sales. According to the GOTT ministry of finance, the actual average trade- weighted tariff rates applying to T&T imports from the US in 1993 were a 4.28 percent import duty, a 2.81 percent stamp duty, and a 0.26 percent import surcharge for a 7.35 percent total tariff. Customs procedures: Customs clearance can consume much time because of bureaucratic inefficiency and occasional inflexible interpretation of regulations. In addition, the press has reported allegations of widespread corruption in the customs division. In October 1993, the GOTT engaged three full-time US Customs Service consultants for two years to improve efficiency and revenue collection and to eliminate opportunities for corruption. Customs valuation: The customs value applied on imported goods is the price paid for goods when sold for export to T&T. This is computed on the cif value, and includes all other foreign costs incidental to the delivery of goods to T&T. Import licenses are required for the following "negative list" items, the import of which is still controlled: 1. Poultry 2. Pork products 3. Carcasses beef 4. Carcasses lamb, goat 5. Crustaceans & fish 6. Liquid milk 7. Rice 8. Most fresh vegetables 9. Most fruits 10. Coffee 11. Sugar 12. Cocoa 13. Coconut products 14. Oil seed 15. Vegetable and animal oils and fats 16. Left-hand drive vehicles 17. Used right-hand drive vehicles 18. Tobacco paper 19. Small ships and boats. With advance notice, licenses can be obtained for the import of many of these products, particularly beef and temperate-climate fruits and vegetables. Certain other types of agricultural products, plants, animals and explosives also require import permits. Export controls: Items under the following categories require export licenses --: - local heritage items - subsidized items - items relating to national security and foreign policy - human organs - non-ferrous metal scrap and ores Export of goods to Haiti is prohibited. Documents required for importation of goods: - supplier invoice - certificate of origin - bill of lading - shipping documents - declaration of value - import license (for negative list items) Upon arrival of goods, supporting documents must be submitted to customs authorities and relevant duties paid before goods may be cleared from customs. Supplier invoices must be in the form of a CARICOM area invoice. In an effort to simplify export and import procedures, the GOTT plans to implement UNCTAD's recommendations on trade facilitation reforms, including the asycuda system. Temporary entry of goods to be re-exported is allowed if arranged in advance. A deposit or bond covering the duty liability of such items to be imported often must be posted with customs prior to the item's entry. Items to be re-exported must be clearly identified by a mark such as a serial or part number. Upon re-exportation, the equivalent of one-tenth of one percent of the duty liability becomes due for every three months the item remained in Trinidad and Tobago. Prohibited imports: Illegal narcotics and negative list items without a license are prohibited. Also, certain knives, firearms, weapons and explosives; seditious publications; specific animals such as monkeys and the mongoose, animals that have died in transit; used or second-hand animal blankets, saddle cloths, felting or pads, and dung are prohibited by law from importation into Trinidad and Tobago. Labelling and Marking Requirements, and Standards: Standards, labelling, testing and certification, to the extent that they are required, do not hinder US exports. The government is not a party to the GATT standards code. The Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TABS) is responsible for all trade standards except those pertaining to food, drugs and cosmetics items, which the chemistry, food and drug division of the ministry of health monitors. The TABS uses the ISO 9000 series of standards and is a member of Isonet. Free trade zones/warehouses: The designation and administration of free-trade zones (FTZ) in Trinidad and Tobago were authorized by law in 1988. The first FTZ was established in the Point Lisas industrial estate. Other free-trade zones are being considered for Piarco international airport and the La Brea area in south Trinidad. Any enterprise may, however, apply for free-zone designation upon establishment of proper security fencing and facilities. Special import provisions: Commercial samples and advertising film, to be used for demonstration purposes only, and then re-exported, are allowed entry without payment of duty. Membership in free-trade arrangements: Trinidad and Tobago is a signatory to the treaty establishing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a free trade agreement between 12 English-speaking Caribbean countries. Trinidad and Tobago is one of the 23 countries benefitting from the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI). CBI allows duty-free entry into the US of a wide-range of products grown and manufactured in eligible countries. Trinidad and Tobago is a signatory to the Lome Convention, through which certain developing African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries are offered duty-free for certain products into the European Union. Trinidad and Tobago is also a member of a trade agreement between Canada and Caribbean countries (CARIBCAN); has a free-trade agreement with Venezuela, and is negotiating agreements with Colombia and Mexico. Bilateral investment agreements exist between T&T and the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. Negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty with the US were completed in June 1994.