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Rules of Origin Working Group
All goods traded need to have a determined origin: for statistical reasons, trade measures (antidumping, anti-subsidies measures, preferential treatment). “Rules of origin” (RoO) are the criteria used to define where a product was made.
ESIA FTG works in two areas:
- Harmonisation working programmes of non preferential RoO within WTO
- Reform of preferential origin regimes for the EU
Non-preferential origin rules
Non preferential RoO are used when no tariff preferences are involved and therefore mainly for statistical purposes, as we always want trade figures to tell us who our trading partners are. However, they are also used when other trade measures need to specify a particular non-tariff treatment for goods from a particular country. For example, this is the case of anti-dumping duties or trade embargos. With non-preferential rules of origin there is always a country of origin that can be established.
EECA-ESIA is following closely developments of the non-preferential Rules of Origin Harmonized work programme (HWP) at WTO.
EECA-ESIA is following closely developments of the non-preferential Rules of Origin Harmonized work programme (HWP) at WTO.
Preferential origin rules
Preferential origin is conferred on goods from particular countries, which have fulfilled certain criteria allowing preferential rates of duty to be claimed. Preferential Rules have very specific conditions that need to be met, as what matters is from which particular country a good originates.
Some arrangements are granted unilaterally by the Community, whereas others are negotiated with the partner countries concerned (e.g. Mexico).