G/RO/W/219  
 
12 May 2023  
(23-3356) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Rules of Origin    
 
ORIGIN RELATED MEASURES TAKEN DURING THE COVID -19 PANDEMIC  
Compilation of measures affecting certificates of origin and proofs of origin  
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
 
1. Several WTO members adopted trade  easing or  facilitating measures as a response to the 
COVID -19 pandemic . The purpose of some of these measures was to simplify  the completion of 
administrative and documentary requirements – including related to rules of origin. This document 
presents a compilation of origin -related measures for Members' information and future reference.  
 
2. In the height of the COVID -19 pandemic,  the closure of government agencies and the 
application of  restrictions on the movement of persons, resulted in difficulties to complete  certain 
administrative procedures . Examples include request s or the presentation of printed  documents, the 
use of official stamps and signatures, the requirement for  the consularization of certificates , etc. 
Such difficulties impacted trade documents and administrative procedures in general , not only those 
related to origin. As a result, some governments sought to temporarily or permanently simplify these 
documentary requirements , including those related to origin,  and alleviate such difficulties.  
 
3. The table in the Annex contains a non -exhaustive list of  measures take n by Members  in 
relation to rules of origin as a response to the COVID -19 pandemic . The list may be revised and 
complemented to take into account any comments or updates received from Member s. The measures 
listed in it were sourced from:  
 
- The "Compedium of experiences related to the COVID -19 crisis" prepared for the Committee 
on Trade Facilitation  (G/TFA/W/40/Rev.4 ) 
- The compilation of "Lessons learned from the experience –sharing sessions on trade in 
COVID -19 related goods" by the Committee on Marke t Access ( G/MA/409 ) and  
- The informal compilation prepared by the WTO Secretariat on measures taken during the 
COVID -19 pandemic and affecting trade in goods  (available through the WTO website) : WTO 
| COVID -19: Measures affecting trade in goods  
 
In addition to a brief description and the source, it is also indicated for each measure:  
 
- if the measure concerns specifically proofs of origin (certificates) or trade documents in 
general, and  
- if the measur e was adopted on a temporary or on a permanent basis (a question mark was 
added in case of doubt) . 
 
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1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.   
  G/RO/W/219  
 
- 2 - ANNEX1 
 
Member  Description of Measure  Specific to 
Origin/   
General to trade 
documents  Temporary/  
Permanent  Source  
Argentina  1. Temporary authorization to exceptionally accept documents 
of origin in electronic form for accreditation and to determine 
the origin of imported goods, and to access tariff preferences 
that are part of preferential agreements signed by Argenti na 
(LAIA, Israel, Egypt and SACU). Presentation of original 
format to Customs not required, due to the COVID -19 
pandemic . Specific  Temporary  WTO | COVID -19: Me asures affecting trade in 
goods . Permanent Delegation of Argentina to the 
WTO and Circular No. 2/2020 Administración 
Federal de Ingresos Públicos (6 April 2020)  
Canada  2. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has recently 
implemented an e -Longroom initiative which created a new 
process for providing electronic copies of release documents 
to the CBSA, thereby further reducing the paper burden . General  Permanent?  Trade Facilitation measures taken in response to 
COVID -19 (G/TFA/W/24)  
Chile 3. The implementation of electronic procedures (responses to 
requests from customs brokers, exchanges, or modifications 
of bills of lading  by email and remote working of customs 
brokers), as well as the suspension of some deadlines 
deemed unmeetable due to CO VID-19 outbreak.  General  Temporary?  Trade Facilitation measures taken in response to 
COVID -19 (G/TFA/W/24)  
Dominican 
Republic  4. Procedures involving digital signatures, support were 
provided through email and phone . General  Temporary?  Notification under articles 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2 and 
12.2.2 of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation 
(G/TFA/ N/DOM/3/Rev.1)  
Eurasian 
Economic 
Union  
(EAEU ) 5. Temporary simplification of the country -of-origin confirmation 
procedure applied to goods imported from developing and 
LDCs, including through a possibility to provide electronic or 
paper copy of the certificate of origin . Specific  Temporary  WTO | COVID -19: Measures affecting trade in 
goods . Permanent Delegation of the Russian 
Federation to the WTO (23  April 2020) and 
Decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic 
Commission No. 36 (3  April 2020)  
European 
Union  6. To facilitate the trade during the COVID -19 pandemic, 
including measures concerning the submission of proof of 
preferential origin by accepting copies of certificates of origin, 
as well as optimally using approved exporter status as an 
alternative to offic ial certificates.  Specific  Temporary  Trade Facilitation measures taken in response to 
COVID -19 (G/TFA/W/24)  
7. Issuance of confirmation  letters digitally signed to prove the 
authenticity of unstamped certificates.  General  
 Temporary?  
 G/TFA/W/40/Rev 4  
8. Exchange of scanned  certificates via e -mail between the 
economic operator  and the customs office.  General  Temporary?  G/TFA/W/40/Rev 4  
9. Exchange by post of certificates.  Specific  Temporary?  G/TFA/W/40/Rev 4  
 
1 The measures with a question mark means that further clarification by concer ned members is required .  
  G/RO/W/219  
 
- 3 - Member  Description of Measure  Specific to 
Origin/   
General to trade 
documents  Temporary/  
Permanent  Source  
India 10. Allowing provisional clearance of goods imported under free 
trade agreements without production of original certificate of 
origin. Customs Circular No. 18/2020 -Cus dated 11.04.2020.  Specific  Temporary?  Intimation to th e Committee on Trade Facilitation 
about India's COVID -19 trade facilitation measures 
(G/TFA/W/26)  
11. Issuance of electronic certificates of origin for exports under 
India's trade agreements with ASEAN, Japan, South Asia, 
Sri Lanka and Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) on a 
digital platform  (Trade Notice 1/2020 -21 dated 7  April 2020). Specific  Permanent?  Intimation to the Committee on Tra de Facilitation 
about India's COVID -19 trade facilitation measures 
(G/TFA/W/26)  
Indonesia  12. Temporary elimination of import certification requirements on 
imports of certain  products, e.g., masks and personal 
protective equipment, due to the COVID -19 pandemic . 
 General  
 Temporary  
 WTO | COVID -19: Measures affecting trade in 
goods . Permanent Delegation of Indonesia to the 
WTO (1  April 2020) and Ministry of Trade 
Regulation No. 28  
13. Temporary elimination of import certification requirements on 
imports of onions  and garlic (HS 0703) . General  Temporary  WTO | COVID -19: Measures affecting trade in 
goods . Permanent Delegation of Indonesia to the 
WTO (1  April 2020 and 26  April 2022) and Ministry 
of Trade Regulation  No. 27  
Japan  14. Japan customs allowed submission of electronic copies of 
supporting document which include certificates of origin.  Specific  Temporary?  Japan Customs' Response to COVID -19 
Republic of 
Korea  15. Accept a copy instead of the original document of the 
certificate of origin to impose preferential tariffs.  Specific  Temporary  Trade Facilitation measures taken in response to 
COVID -19 (G/TFA/W/24)  
16. Omit document screening and visit inspection in the process 
of issuing certificates of origin in case companies recognized 
by the Korea Customs Service as excellent companies in 
export safety management.  Specific  Temporary  Trade Facilitation measures taken in response to 
COVID -19 (G/TFA/W/24)  
Mexico  17. Certificates of origin which by their nature require to be 
printed, stamped, and signed, the form of delivery will be 
through the website designed by the Ministry of Economy.  Specific  Temporary  Trade Facilitation measures taken in response to 
COVID -19 (G/TFA/W/24)  
18. Presentation of documents through electronic means.  General  Permanent?  Trade Facilitation measures taken in response to 
COVID -19 (G/TFA/W/24)  
19. Transport services measures. Extended the validity of 
permits, licences, and certificates  for technical personnel  General  Temporary  Trade Facilitation measures taken in resp onse to 
COVID -19 (G/TFA/W/24)  
20. Certificates of origin, certificates of eligibility for textile goods 
and clothing (TPL) and certificates of quota, which by their 
nature require to be printed, stamped, and signed, the form 
of delivery will be through the website designed by the 
Ministry of Economy.  Specific  Temporary  Trade Facilitation measures taken in response to 
COVID -19 (G/TFA/W/24)  
Norway  21. Norwegian Customs  introduced  an electronic version of the 
preferential Movement Certificate EUR.1. The launch was 
expedited as a corona measure, but the solution is a 
permanent trade facilitating measure.  General  Permanent  Trade Facilitation measures taken in response to 
COVID -19 (G/TFA/W/24)   
  G/RO/W/219  
 
- 4 - Member  Description of Measure  Specific to 
Origin/   
General to trade 
documents  Temporary/  
Permanent  Source  
Paraguay  22. System of certification of origin in digital form without the use 
of paper. It assumes that both the filling of the data as well 
as the two signature instances shipments and validation of 
the Certificate of Origin are made digitally . Specific  Temporary  Ventanilla única del exportado r - medidas en época 
de pandemia  
23. Issuance of digital certificates of origin  and in other cases, 
exchange of scanned documents . Specific  Temporary?  Ventanilla única del exportador - medidas en época 
de pandemia  
24. Adjustment of fees related to the importation of goods, 
resulting in a 30 -40% reduction in import costs . General  Temporary  WTO | COVID -19: Measures affecting trade in 
goods . WTO document G/AG/GEN/162, 
28 July 2020 
Saint Lucia 
on behalf of 
OECS  25. ICT to support trade (e.g., single windows and trade 
information portals) . General  Permanent?  OECS report  
Switzerland  26. The "Libero Export" procedure, which simplifies export 
procedures at border customs offices, has recently been 
introduced across Switzerland (as far as is logistically 
possible). The customs declarant selects the export customs 
declaration and may export consi gnments selected as "free" 
without carrying out additional Swiss customs formalities. The 
submission of customs documents to Swiss windows, as well 
as the resulting waiting times, will thus gradually be 
eliminated . General  Permanent?  Notification under articles 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2 and 
12.2.2 of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation 
(G/TFA/N/CHE/2/Rev.1)  
 
 
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