./.RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/RO/W/60
31 October 2000
(00-4555)
DRAFT
REPORT (2000) OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES OF ORIGIN
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS1
1. The Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) held eight meetings on 16 November 1999, on
28 January , 18 February, 14 April, 23 June, 18 July, 29 September and 3 November 2000(G/RO/M/26-33).  At its meeting in June the CR O elected Mr. Sándor Simon (Hungary) as Chairman
and Mr. Ho-Young Ahn (Korea) as Vice-Chairman for 2000.  Observer governments in the General
Council of the WTO have observer status in the CRO.  In addition, representatives of the ACP, EFTA,
IADB, IMF, ITCB, OECD, UNCTAD, WCO and the World Bank attend meetings of the CRO in an
observer capacity.
2. In connection with the Harmonization Work Programme (HWP) for non-preferential rules of
origin, set out in Part IV of the Agreement, to be completed within three years of its initiation, i.e. by
20 July 1998, and in respect of which the CRO agreed to make its best endeavours to complete it by
November 1999, the CRO:
- at its meeting in November 1999, made a progress report to the Council for Trade in Goods
(G/RO/42);
- at its meeting in January 2000, agreed to the Notional Work Programme for 2000
(G/RO/M/27);
- at its meetings in November 1999, in February, April, June, September [and November] 2000,
discussed the deadline for the completion of the work programme on harmonizing rules of
origin (G/RO/M/26, 28-32 [and 33]).  The Chairm an, at the meeting of the CRO in September
2000, suggested as the new deadline the Fourth Session of the Ministerial Conference, or at
the latest the end of 2001.  The CRO, at its meeting in November 2000, [to be completed in
light of the discussion at the meeting of 3 November 2000] ;
- discussed the remaining issues relating to the overall architecture of the harmonized rules of
origin, drawing upon the technical work forwar ded by the TCRO and additional contributions
made by Members.  To date, consensus has been reached on General Rules 1, 3, 6 and 7;Definition 1 of Appendix 1;  and Rule 1 of Appendix 2 (G/RO/M/26, 28, 30 and 32 ).  At the
stocktaking meeting of the CRO in July 2000, there was a recognition of the need for more
focused work on the overall architecture.  It was envisaged that the work on architecture could
be substantially finished by the end of 2000 (G/RO/M/31);
- at its stocktaking meeting in July 2000, agreed that special attention should be paid to
cross-sectoral issues;  hence informal discussions on the cross-sectoral issues have been
scheduled for November 2000 (G/RO/M/31 and 32);
                                                     
1 This report covers the period November 1999-November 2000.G/RO/W/60
Page 2
- discussed outstanding issues on product-specific rules for chapters 1-24 (agricultural products
and fish), 25-27 (mineral products), 28-40 (chemicals), 41-43 (leather), 44-49 (wood and
paper), 50-63 (textile products), 64-67 (footwear and headgear), 68-70 (stone, glass and
ceramics), 71 (precious stones and metals), 72-73 (iron and steel), 74-80 (non-ferrous metals),
81-82 (articles of metals), 84-90 (machinery) and 92-97 (other articles).  Consensus has beenreached on seven issues (G/RO/M/26, 28, and 30).  Further discussion on chapters 1, 8, 9, 22,
61-63, 82 and 92 has been scheduled for November 2000 (G/RO/M/32);
- at its meetings in November 1999 and April 2000, discussed the issue "implications of the
implementation of the harmonized rules of origin on other WTO Agreements" on the basis of
two additional submissions from India (G/RO/ W/42 and 52), as well as questions from the
United States to India (G/RO/W/48) and the replies by India (G/RO/W/50) (G/RO/M/26 and
28).
3. Pursuant to Article 5.1 and paragraph 4 of Annex II of the Agreement, all Members are
required to notify their rules of origin, judicial decisions and administrative rulings of general
application relating to rules of origin.  To date, 72 Members have made notifications relating tonon-preferential rules of origin and 75 Members have made notifications relating to preferential rules
of origin.
[To be completed in light of the discus sion at the meeting on 3 November 2000.]
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