G/L/1331  
 
1 November 2019  
(19-7353) Page: 1/1 
   
 
REPORT ( 2019) OF THE COMMITTEE O N RULES OF ORIGIN  
TO THE COUNCIL FOR T RADE IN GOODS  
1. This note reports activities of the Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) and summarizes the 
work undertaken by the Committee in respect of the objectives of the Agreement on Rules of Origin. 
Article  6.1 of the Agreement which provides  that "The Committee sha ll review annually the 
implementation and operation of Parts II and III of this Agreement having regard to its objectives " 
and " inform the Council for Trade in Goods of developments during the period covered by such 
reviews."  
2. The CRO held two formal meetin gs in 2019: on 15 -16 May  and on 17 -18 October. The minutes 
of these meetings are contained in documents G/RO/M/72 and G/RO/M/731 respectively. In  addition, 
the Committee held informal meetings as well as several small -group and bilateral consultations on 
several matters. Ms Uma MUNIANDY (Singapore) was elected Chairperson of the Committee in 
June 2019. She followed Mrs  Thembekile MLANGENI (South Africa) as Chairperson of the Committee.  
3. At its meeting of 17 and 18 October, the CRO conducted the twenty -fifth review of the 
implementation and operation of the Agreement (document G/RO/W/189) and a yearly review of 
developments with relation to preferential rules of origin for LDCs . 
4. With relation to non-preferential rules of origin, the Committee did not hold discussions 
specifically related to the  Harmonization Work Programme  (HWP). Discussions on t his work 
programme , mandated under Part  IV of the Agreement, have been stalled since 2007. Members held 
different views regarding the implications of adopting harmonized non -preferential rules of origin f or 
other trade policy measures. These "core policy issues"  were described in the 2013 Report of the 
CRO to the Council for Trade in Goods  (G/L/1047) . Members continue to hold different views 
regarding the need to finalize or not  the HWP .   
5. Pending the continuation of the HWP, the Committee has considered a proposal to 
"enhance  transparency on non -preferential rules of origin" (G/RO/W/182/Rev.1  and 
G/RO/W/182/Rev.1/Add.1 ). Under the proposal Members would commit to updating their 
notifications of non -preferential rules of origin and origin requirements. Such notifications would be 
prepared following a template that would standardize the informat ion provided by each Member. All 
the information received would be made available by the Secretariat through an electronic platform 
for easier access  and the CRO would initiate a focused examination of the information received.  
Consultations are ongoing on  the proposal.  
6. With respect to preferential rules of origin, the Committee  continued to review the 
implementation of the 2013 and 2015 Ministerial Decision s on preferential rules of origin for least 
developed countries (LDCs) ( WT/L/917 and WT/L/917/Add.1) . The Committee took note of reports 
by prefere nce-granting Members about the efforts being made to implement the Decision. 
The Committee also reviewed the latest status of notifications (G/RO/W/163/Rev. 6). 
Members  examined  substantive matters related to preferential rules of origin , including:  rules based 
on the change -of-tariff-classification criterion, direct consignment requirements and utilization rates 
for the LDC preferences of Switzerland and China. A detailed report describing these activities has 
been prepared for the General Council  (G/RO/ 89) and an oral report will be delivered for the 
Sub-Committee on LDCs . 
__________  
 
                                                
1 To be issued.