G/RO/W/205  
 
27 May 2021  
(21-4434) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Rules of Origin  Original: English  
 
 
FORMAL MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES OF ORIGIN – 20 MAY 2021  
Report on the Work of the WCO Technical Committee on Rules of Origin (TCRO)  
Presented by Mr. Demba Seck (WCO Secretariat)  
1  NON-PREFERENTIAL RULES OF ORIGIN  
1.1.  The Technical Committee on Rules of Origin (TCRO) held its 39th Session in two phases: a 
document -based discussion via CLiKC! Platform from 5 to 19 January 2021; and a live online meeting 
through KUDO Platform on 3 February 2021. The meeting was chaired by Ms.  Nan DING (China ). 
1.2.  Within the framework of its permanent responsibilities, the TCRO adopted the 22nd Periodic 
Report and the 22nd Annual Review on Technical Aspects and Implementation of the Agreement for 
the period from 1 January to 31 December 2020 . 
The Annual Review was short, as usual, since the Agreement has not yet been implemented in 
practice and, therefore, to date no problems or specific questions have been referred to the TCRO.  
1.3.  The Periodic Report relating to technical aspects and operation of the Agreement also contained 
information on the Secretariat 's activities and the work of the Technical Committee. All the 
documents from the session can be found on the WCO Website.  
1.4.  At the meeting, the WTO secretariat informed the TCRO about t he work that had taken place 
in the CRO under the Harmonization Work Programme.  
1.5.  The WTO Secretariat also informed the TCRO about the work carried out in relation to the 
Ministerial Decision on Preferential Rules of Origin for Least Developed Countries.  
1.6.  The TCRO took note of the latest outcome of the discussions within the CRO.  
2  PREFERENTIAL RULES OF ORIGIN  
2.1.  During the meeting, the WCO Secretariat informed the TCRO about the state of play of the 
origin part of the Revenue  Package Action Plan . The Revenue Pack age Phase IV Action Plan,  adopted 
in June 2019, is arriving at completion in June 2021 . The Revenue Package is a set of initiatives 
aiming at ensuring an effective and efficient collection of revenues by Customs Administrations.  
2.2.  A major challenge for all s takeholders is the lack of harmonisation within the area of origin.  
The WCO is promoting  procedural harmonisation to facilitate trade through the proper 
implementation of WCO Guidelines.  
2.3.  The origin part of the Phase IV focuses on the application of tools already developed and not 
on the development of new tools. However, the Comparative Study on Certification of Origin was 
updated in June 2020 to take into consideration new trends on both non-preferential and preferential 
certification of origin and to enrich procedural material on origin as part of the Action Plan. For origin 
related matters the key tools are:  
• Guidelines on origin certification ; 
• Guidelines on origin verification ; G/RO/W/205  
 
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  • Guideline s on advance rulings (for origin, HS and valuation) ; and 
• Guidelines on Customs infrastructure for classification, origin and valuation . 
2.4.  All of these guidelines are aimed at simplifying and streamlining the procedures linked to rules 
of origin , and were dev eloped in order to ensure facilitation for compliant traders while maintaining 
the balance between trade facilitation and the need for customs control in relation to imports and 
exports.  
2.5.  The WCO guidelines are available on the WCO website.  
2.6.  Another key tool  developed within the Revenue Package is the publication A Practical Guide to 
the Nairobi Ministerial Decision on Rules of Origin for LDCs .  
2.7.  The guide provides practical information on how to qualify for preferential treatment and 
detailed explanations  of the elements in the Decision. It includes guidance material comprising 
professional inputs from a Customs perspective, in order to ensure tha t the LDCs benefit to the 
maximum extent possible from the Decision.  
2.8.  The guide is meant for the use of WCO Member Customs administrations which also play the 
role of "competent issuing authority " in exporting LDCs. However, it is also useful for exporters  or 
producers of products manufactured in LDCs who wish to utilise the LDC trade preferences.  
2.9.  The guide does not relate to how preference -granting countries develop or modify their rules 
of origin; it simply aims to help LDCs achieve better utilisation of the market access opportunities 
available to them through preference schemes.  
2.10.   The WCO is currently promoting this guide. After the workshop for English -speaking African 
LDCs organized in Mombasa (Kenya), from 3 -6 December 2019, another workshop for 
French -speaking African LDCs was held virtually from 17 -19 May 2021.  
2.11.   The guide is available  on the WCO website.  
3  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES PROVIDED BY THE WCO 
SECRETARIAT  
3.1.  The Secretariat has undertaken a large number of technical assistance activi ties relating to 
harmonization of non -preferential rules of origin and the application of preferential rules. A document 
has been presented to the TCRO reflecting all the capacity building activities carried out by the 
Secretariat. The document is availabl e on the WCO website.  
3.2.  The Secretariat has been working on converting to the virtual delivery of capacity building 
activities, given it has not been possible to organise face -to-face activities during the COVID -19 
pandemic.  
3.3.  The WCO is currently placing an i ncreasing attention to capacity building related to Origin 
Infrastructure and Advance Rulings . Members are encouraged to submit technical assistance request 
to the WCO through the formal process in the beginning of each year.  
4  PRESENTATIONS  
4.1.  Presentations o n origin matter were also given at the TCRO meeting in February 2021 for 
information sharing purposes.  
4.2.  The Secretariat provided details of the progress of the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) Review  
work under the four-step framework.  
4.3.  The coordinator of the Sponsoring Group, a Delegate of Switzerland, gave a presentation 
regarding the Joint Proposal  for the Comprehensive Review of RKC Specific Annex K  and shared the 
developments to date, the outline of the proposals and next steps to the Te chnical Committee.  G/RO/W/205  
 
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  4.4.  Colombia and India shared their best practices regarding the Rules of Origin facilitation 
measures implemented under  current COVID -19 pandemic. These presentations were well received 
with other Members expressing their appreciation to Co lombia and India for sharing their best 
practices.  
4.5.  The Chairperson also informed the Technical Committee that information on the various 
practices by Members in response to the COVID -19 pandemic are also available at the dedicated 
COVID -19 page on the WCO  website.   
4.6.  The presentations  from the TCRO are available on the WCO website.  
4.7.  It was also highlighted that after being postponed twice, the WCO would host its 2nd WCO 
Global Origin Conference, from 10 to 12 March 2021, in a virtual format, with funding from Korea 
Customs Service . Members  were invited and encouraged to take part in this flagship event.  
4.8.  The programme of the Conference included topics on the impact of non -preferential rules of 
origin in today 's trading environment, the current developments and challenges in regional 
integration around the world, including on the North and South American continents, AfCFTA, RCEP, 
etc., and how this is affecting the global economy.  
4.9.  The conference also discussed how the update of the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) and 
other WCO origin tools can influence and support the implementation of the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement and of Free Trade Agreements and how to expand global opportunities under the Free 
Trade Agreem ents, including for Least Developed Countries.  
4.10.   In addition to these topics, the WTO Nairobi Decision on Preferential Rules of Origin for LDCs 
was discussed to analyse the challenges, progress and future actions in relation to the 
implementation of the Nair obi Decision, thanks to the kind participation of Mr. Darlan Marti from the 
WTO Secretariat and other distinguished speakers to the session. The discussion included the 
technical aspects, the procedural requirements and the obligations of the preference -granting 
countries.  
4.11.   This concludes my report. Thank you Chair for giving me the floor, and I am of course willing 
to take any questions from delegates.  
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