Art. 2. The object of the Union is to publish, at the common expense, and to make known, as speedily and accurately as possible, the customs tariffs of the various States of the globe and the modifications that may, in future, be made in those tariffs.
Art. 3. To this end, an International Bureau shall be organized at Brussels, whose duty it shall be to cause these tariffs, together with such legislative or executive provisions as may introduce modifications therein, to be translated and published.
Art. 4. This publication shall be made in a collection entitled: "International Customs Bulletin (organ of the International Union for the publication of Customs Tariffs)." The Commercial languages most in use shall be adopted for this purpose.
Art. 5. The persons composing the International Bureau shall be appointed through the agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, which shall advance the necessary funds and see that the institution is properly managed.
Art. 6. In communications addressed by the International Bureau to the adhering Governments, the French language shall be used.
Art. 7. A report concerning the labors and the financial condition of the International Bureau shall be annually addressed to the adhering Governments.
Art. 8. The annual budget of the expenditures of the International Bureau shall be fixed at the maximum of 125,000 francs.
The sum of 50,000 francs shall be placed, the first year, at the disposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, to enable him to meet the expenses of the organization of the Bureau.
Such States and colonies as may hereafter avail themselves of the privilege of adhering, for which provision is made in article 14, shall pay their quotas of the said sum of 50,000 francs, on the basis of apportionment fixed in article 9.
States and colonies withdrawing from the Union at the expiration of the first term of seven years shall forfeit their rights as joint owners of the common fund.
In case of a liquidation, the common fund shall be divided among the States and colonies forming the Union on the basis of apportionment fixed by article 9.
Art. 9. With a view to the equitable adjustment of the quotas of the contracting States, those States shall be divided, according to the amount of their commerce, into six classes, the quota payable by each of which shall be in the proportion of a certain number of units, to wit:
- 1st class. Countries whose commerce regularly amounts to upwards of four thousand millions of francs: 55 units.
- 2nd class. Countries whose commerce regularly amounts to from two to four thousand millions of francs: 40 units.
