G/RO/W/171  
 
21 September 2017  
(17-5007) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Rules of Origin    
 
 TWENTY THIRD  ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE  IMPLEMENTATION AND  
OPERATION OF THE AGR EEMENT ON RULES OF O RIGIN  
BACKGROUND NOTE BY THE SECRETAR IAT1 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1. Article 6.1 of the Agreement on Rules of Origin provides that "the Committee shall review 
annually the implementation and operation of Part II and Part III of this Agreement having regard 
to its objectives".  The outcome of such a review will be incorporated to the Committee's Annual 
report  to the Council for Trade in Goods on the implementation and operati on of the Agreement on 
Rules of Origin. This  background note was prepared  by the Secretariat to assist Members in 
conducting the 23rd annual review of the implementation and operation of the Agreement.  
2  MEMBERS AND OBSERVER S OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES OF ORI GIN 
2.1. Government representatives of all WTO Members and Observers are also Members and 
Observers to the CRO. In addition, the following international organizations also have observer 
status at the CRO: ACP, EFTA, IADB, IMF, OECD, UNCTAD, WCO and World B ank. 
3  OFFICERS OF THE COMM ITTEE ON RULES OF OR IGIN  
3.1. Mr. Gerardo PAJUELO (Peru) was elected Chairman of the Committee in May 2016. 
4  MEETINGS OF THE COMM ITTEE ON RULES OF OR IGIN  
4.1. The Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) held two formal meetings in 2016:  on 2 and 
3 March and on 4 and 5 October.  The minutes of these meetings are contained in documents 
G/RO/M/ 68 and [G/RO/M/6 9] respectively.  A number of other activities related to the work of the 
Committee were also held, including informal consultations and one "information  session" on 
non-preferential rules of origin . 
5  NOTIFICATIONS  
5.1. The CRO took note of a number of new notifications under Article 5. On the basis of 
notifications received to date : 48 Members apply non-preferential rules of origin (i.e . 35% of the 
WTO membership, counting the EU and its member states as one); 55 Members do not apply any 
non-preferential rules of origin; and 33 Members have not yet submitted any notification under 
Article 5 (see Annex 1 for a full list of notifications r eceived).  
5.2. To improve transparency with respect to existing non -preferential rules of origin and to 
facilitate access to the relevant legislation , the Secretariat has added a new functionality to the 
rules of origin page of the WTO website  in 2017 : a new section enumerates  all WTO Members with 
their respective notifications. Users can check for each Member whether non -preferential rules of 
origin are in place or not. Internet links were added so that the website  links or scanned copies of 
the relevant l egislation can be directly retrieved (whenever available). The webpage also informs 
users if no information is available (in the case of Members who have not yet submitted their 
notification).  
                                                
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsib ility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  G/RO/W/171  
 
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  5.3. With respect to preferential rules of origin , a number of notifications have been received by 
the Secretariat . For rules of origin which apply under reciprocal trade preferences (notified under 
the Transparency Mechanism for Regional Trade Agreements (WT/L/671)), the relevant legislation  
can be accessed via the W TO RTA database: http://rtais.wto.org . In the case of rules of origin 
which apply under non -reciprocal trade preferences (notified under the Transparency Mechanism 
for Preferential Trade Arrangements (WT/L/806)), the re levant legislation  can be retrieved via the 
WTO PTA database: http://ptadb.wto.org . New preferential rules of origin are also brought to the 
attention of Members at the CRO through the circulation of notifications under  the G/RO/N series 
(prepared by the Secretariat) .  
5.4. In addition, as mandated by the WTO 2015 Ministerial Decision on preferential rules of origin 
for least -developed countries (LDCs) (WT/L/917/Add.1), the CRO has adopted a new template for 
the notifica tion of preferential rules of origin (G/RO/84). All WTO preference -granting Members 
agreed to submit detailed information about their preferential rules of origin using the template. 
Twelve Members made such notifications. These were circulated under the G/RO/LDC/N/  document 
series.  
6  WORK OF THE COMMITTE E RELATED TO PARTS I, II AND III OF THE  AGREEMENT  
6.1. Part II of the Agreement relate to the multilateral disciplines which govern the utilization of 
non-preferential rules of origin by WTO Members. That is,  it covers the transitional disciplines 
pending the adoption of harmonized rules (Article 2) and the disciplines once harmonized rules of 
origin have been adopted (Article 3).  As was noted in the Committee's 2013 Annual Report to the 
CTG (G/L/1047), the implementation and operation of the Agreement is not satisfactory as the 
stalemate in the Harmonization Work Programme (HWP ) compromises the attainment of the core 
objectives of the Agreement (i.e. the facilitation of global trade through the international 
harmonization of non -preferential rules of origin).  
6.2. In 2017, there has not been any new proposal regarding product -specific harmonized rule of 
origin. In fact, during the two meetings of the CRO in 2017, no item specifically under the HWP 
has been con sidered.  
6.3.  According to Article 6 of the Agreement, Members "shall review the provisions [of the 
Agreement] and propose amendments as necessary to reflect the results of the HWP. Given the 
lack of internationally agreed non -preferential rules of origin , it is not surprising that no Member 
has raised any issues regarding the implementation of the Agreement in the CRO. 
Under  paragraph 6, the annual review should also cover the operation of the "disciplines during 
the transition period" ( Article 2 of the A greement). No issues have been raised with respect to 
these transitional disciplines and there are currently no specific or dedicated procedures to 
examine existing rules of origin in light of the disciplines of Article 2.  
6.4. Pending the continuation of the H WP, the Committee agreed , in 2015,  to engage in an 
"educational exercise"  to exchange information about non -preferential rules of origin and better 
understand the impact that existing rules have on international trade . Several "information 
sessions" w here organized . During these sessions Members heard presentations about the impact 
of rules of origin on international trade and on business operations . Summaries of these sessions 
have been prepared (documents G/RO/W/162; G/RO/W/167 and G/RO/W/170) and al l 
presentations were made available (under the RD/RO/ document series). The latest information 
session was held on 2 March 2017. Subsequently, t he Chair has asked Members to reflect on the 
main messages which emerged from this educational exercise in order  to explore alternatives to 
take the work of the Committee forward on these areas.  Additional sessions may be organized in 
the future depending on Members' needs.  
6.5. With respect to the results of the HWP, draft non -preferential rules of origin are conta ined in 
document G/RO/W/111/Rev.6 (in HS96). As mandated by the CRO, these draft rules have been 
"transposed" to reflect more recent versions of the Harmonized System (HS) nomenclature  
(2002,  2007 and 2012). The transposed rules are contained in document J OB/RO/5/Rev.1 and 
JOB/RO/5/Rev.1/Corr.1. Members validated the accuracy of the se (draft) transposed rules in 2016  
and have not considered them again in 2017. The Secretariat has not received additional 
comments or rectifications to these rules . With the 20 17 version of the HS nomenclature, a new 
transposition exercise may  have to be considered.  G/RO/W/1 71 
 
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  7  AMENDMENTS, INTERPRE TATIONS AND RECTIFIC ATIONS TO THE AGREEM ENT 
7.1. During the year under review the Committee has not dealt with any of these matters.  
8  CONSULTATION  AND DISPUTE SETTLEME NT 
8.1. The Secretariat is not aware of any Member that has requested consultations under Article 7 
of the Agreement  on Rules of Origin .  Similarly, there are currently no disputes with respect to the 
Agreement on Rules of Origin ( Article 8). 
9  OTHER AREAS OF WORK OF THE CRO  
9.1. It should be noted that, in 2017, the CRO has worked extensively on other areas which are 
not covered by the WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin, namely preferential rules of origin 
applicable to LDCs under non -reciprocal preferential trade arrangements (PTA). This is a result of 
the implementation of the 2013 and 2015 Ministerial Decisions on preferential rules of origin for 
LDCs (WT/L/917 and WT/L/917/Add.1 respectively). According to the requirements of these 
Decisions, a separate report on their implementation is prepared and sent to the General Council.  
10  REPORT TO THE COUNCI L FOR TRADE IN GOODS  
10.1. [During its meeting on 5 October 2017, t he CRO adopted its annual report to the CTG 
G/RO/W/172].  G/RO/W/171  
 
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  ANNEX 1  
A. Members t hat currently implement n on-preferential rules of origin  
Member  HAVE NP RO  Date 
1. Afghanistan  G/RO/N/143  05.08.2016  
2. Albania  G/RO/N/47  06.07.2005  
G/RO/N/53  18.09.2007  
3. Argentina  G/RO/N/2  22.06.1995  
G/RO/N/10  16.08.1996  
G/RO/N/16  05.03.1997  
4. Armenia  G/RO/N/41  21.08.2003  
5. Australia  G/RO/N/1  
G/RO/N/1/Add.1  09.05.1995  
22.06.1995  
6. Brazil  G/RO/N/14  02.12.1996  
G/RO/N/78  16.04.2012  
7. Burkina Faso  G/RO/N/19  23.01.1998  
8. Canada  G/RO/N/1  
G/RO/N/1/Add.1  09.05.1995  
22.06.1995  
9. China  G/RO/N/37  
G/RO/N/37/Rev.1  
G/RO/N /132 03.06.2002  
02.08.2002  
07.09.2015  
10. Colombia  G/RO/N/1  
G/RO/N/1/Add.1  09.05.1995  
22.06.1995  
11. Cuba G/RO/N/3  27.07.1995  
G/RO/N/125  13.01.2015  
12. European Union1 G/RO/N/1  
G/RO/N/1/Add.1  09.05.1995  
22.06.1995  
13. Georgia  G/RO/N/37  
G/RO/N/37 Rev.1  03.06.2002  
02.08.2002  
14. Hong Kong, China  G/RO/N/1  
G/RO/N/1/Add.1  09.05.1995  
22.06.1995  
G/RO/N/10  16.08.1996  
G/RO/N/24  15.01.1999  
G/RO/N/30  21.11.2000  
G/RO/N/37  
G/RO/N/37 Rev.1  03.06.2002  
02.08.2002  
G/RO/N/46  15.02.2005  
G/RO/N/59  23.09.2008  
G/RO/N/67  02.12.2 010 
G/RO/N/73  15.09.2011  
G/RO/N/86  01.10.2012  
15. Japan  G/RO/N/1  
G/RO/N/1/Add.1  09.05.1995  
22.06.1995  
16. Jordan  G/RO/N/30  21.11.2000  
17. Kazakhstan  G/RO/N/148  
G/RO/N/148/Rev.1  12.09.2016  
27.10.2016  
18. Korea, Rep. of  G/RO/N/1  
G/RO/N/1/Add.1  09.05.1995  
22.06.1995  
G/RO/N/63  18.09.2009  
19. Lao People's Dem. Rep.  G/RO/N/96  24.07.2013  
20. Lesotho  G/RO/N/56  27.05.2008  
21. Liechtenstein  G/RO/N/60/Rev.1  08.04.2009  
22. Madagascar  G/RO/N/11  10.09.1996  
23. Mexico  G/RO/N/12  01.10.1996  
24. Moldova, Rep. of  G/RO/N/36  12.03.2002  
G/RO/N/110  14.02.2014  
G/RO/N/110/Add.1  10.10.2014  
25. Montenegro  G/RO/N/126  20.02.2015  
26. Morocco  G/RO/N/2  22.06.1995  
27. New Zealand  G/RO/N/1  
G/RO/N/1/Add.1  09.05.1995  
22.06.1995  
28. Niger  G/RO/N/19  23.01.1998  
                                                
1 All notifications received from countries prior to joining the EU do not appear in the table . 
 G/RO/W/1 71 
 
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  Member  HAVE NP RO  Date 
29. Norway  G/RO/N/8  05.03.1996  
G/RO/N/62  26.05.2009  
G/RO/N/149  22.09.2016  
30. Peru G/RO/N/4  07.08.1995  
G/RO/N/5  01.11.1995  
G/RO/N/49  02.03.2007  
G/RO/N/50  10.05.2007  
G/RO/N/52  01.06.2007  
G/RO/N/77  12.03.2012  
31. Qatar  G/RO/N/25  13.04.1999  
32. Russian Fed eration  G/RO/N/84  
G/RO/N/84/Corr.1  27.09.2012  
13.12.2012  
33. Rwanda  G/RO/N/75  24.02.2012  
34. Senegal  G/RO/N/10  16.08.1996  
35. Seychelles  G/RO/N/141  02.05.2016  
36. South Africa  G/RO/N/3  27.07.1995  
37. Suriname  G/RO/N/24  15.01.1999  
G/RO/N/43  15.03.2004  
38. Switzerland  G/RO/N/4  07.08.1995  
G/RO/N/60  
G/RO/N/60/Rev.1  26.01.2009  
08.04.2009  
39. Chinese Taipei  G/RO/N/37  
G/RO/N/37 Rev.1  03.06.2002  
02.08.2002  
40. The F.Y. Rep. of Macedonia  G/RO/N/45  09.11.2004  
41. Togo G/RO/N/70  16.06.2011  
42. Tunisia  G/RO/N/7  12.02.1996  
G/RO/N/61  19.02.2009  
43. Turkey  G/RO/N/8  05.03.1996  
G/RO/N/28  30.05.2000  
44. Ukraine  G/RO/N/ 57 07.07.2008  
G/RO/N/81  10.08.2012  
45. United States  G/RO/N/1  
G/RO/N/1/Add.1  09.05.1995  
22.06.1995  
G/RO/N/6  19.12.1995  
G/RO/N/12  01.10.1996  
46. Venezuela, Bolivarian Rep. of  G/RO/N/1  
G/RO/N/1/Add.1  09.05.1995  
22.06.1995  
G/RO/N/10  16.08.1996  
G/RO/N/14  02.12.1996  
47. Yemen  G/RO/N/140  08.04.2016  
48. Zimbabwe  G/RO/N/80  18.07.2012  
 
B. Members that current ly implement non -preferential rules of origin  
Member  Do NOT apply NP RO Date Document Symbol  
1. Bolivia, Plurinational State of  G/RO/N/9  19.04.1996  
2. Belize  G/RO/N/1 47 01.09.2016  
3. Benin  G/RO/N/150  01.09.2016  
4. Brunei Darussalam  G/RO/N/5  01.11.1995  
5. Burundi  G/RO/N/33  02.05.2001  
6. Cameroon  G/RO/N/99  22.08.2013  
7. Chad G/RO/N/22  16.09.1998  
8. Chile G/RO/N/6  19.12.1995  
9. Congo  G/RO/N/118  18.09.2014  
10. Costa Rica  G/RO/N/1  and  
G/RO /N/1/Add.1  09.05.1995  
22.06.1995  
11. Côte d'Ivoire  G/NO/N/117  25.08.2014  
12. Dominica  G/RO/N/24  15.01.1999  
13. Dominican Republic  G/RO/N/9  19.04.1996  
14. El Salvador  G/RO/N/10  16.08.1996  
15. Fiji G/RO/N/17  10.04.1997  
16. The Gambia  G/RO/N/109  31.01.2014  
17. Ghana  G/RO/N/44  06.05.2004  
18. Guatemala  G/RO/N/21  20.07.1998  G/RO/W/171  
 
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  Member  Do NOT apply NP RO Date Document Symbol  
19. Guyana  G/RO/N/42  
G/RO/N/42/Rev.1  10.12.2003  
12.09.2016  
20. Haiti G/RO/N/20/  
G/RO/N/20/Rev.1  14.05.1998  
27.07 1998  
21. Honduras  G/RO/N/3  27.07.1995  
22. Iceland  G/RO/N/5  01.11.1995  
23. India G/RO/N/1  
G/RO/N/1/Add.1  09.05.1995  
22.06.1995  
24. Indonesia  G/RO/N/16  05.03.1997  
25. Israel  G/RO/N/13  19.11.1996  
26. Jamaica  G/RO/N/4  07.08.1995  
27. Kenya  G/RO/N/9  19.04.1996  
28. Kuwait, the State of  G/RO/N/100  19.09.2013  
29. Macao, China  G/RO/N/21  20.07.1998  
30. Malawi  G/RO/N/129  04.06.2015  
31. Malaysia  G/RO/N/6  19.12.1995  
32. Maldives  G/RO/N/22  16.09.1998  
33. Mali G/RO/N/116  
G/RO/N/146  11.07.2014  
12.09.2016  
34. Mauritius  G/RO/N/1  
G/RO/N/1/Add.1  09.05.1995  
22.06.1995  
35. Mongolia  G/RO/N/20/  
G/RO/N/20/Rev.1  14.05.1998  
27.07 1998  
36. Myanmar  G/RO/N/151  21/05/2017  
37. Namibia  G/RO/N/26  02.09.1999  
38. Nicaragua  G/RO/N/10  16.08.1996  
39. Oman  G/RO/N/32  30.04.2001  
40. Pakistan  G/RO/N/16  05.03.1997  
41. Panama  G/RO/N/23  05.10.1998  
42. Papua New Guinea  G/RO/N/32  30.04.2001  
43. Paraguay  G/RO/N/21  20.07.1998  
44. Philippines  G/RO/N/6  19.12.1995  
45. Samoa  G/RO/N/97  02.08.2 013 
46. Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of  G/RO/N/48  08.11.2006  
47. Singapore  G/RO/N/3  27.07.1995  
48. Swaziland  G/RO/N/128  24.04.2015  
49. Thailand  G/RO/N/1  
G/RO/N/1/Add.1  09.05.1995  
22.06.1995  
50. Trinidad and Tobago  G/RO/N/7  12.02.1996  
51. Uganda  G/RO/N/13  19.01.1996  
52. United Arab Em irates  G/RO/N/13  19.11.1996  
G/RO/N/17  10.04.1997  
53. Uruguay  G/RO/N/12  01.10.1996  
54. Viet Nam G/RO/N/68  22.02.2011  
G/RO/N/79  01.06.2012  
55. Zambia  G/RO/N/142  17.06.2016  
 
C. Members that have not yet presented a notification under Article 5 of the Agreement 
on Ru les of Origin  
1. Angola   
2. Antigua and Barbuda   
3. Bahrain, Kingdom of   
4. Bangladesh   
5. Barbados   
6. Botswana   
7. Cabo Verde  
8. Cambodia  
9. Central African Republic  
10. Democratic Republic of 
Congo  
 11. Djibouti  
12. Ecuador  
13. Egypt  
14. Gabon  
15. Grenada  
16. Guinea  
17. Guinea -Bissau  
18. Kyrgyz Republic  
19. Liberia  
20. Mauritania  
21. Mozambique  
22. Nepal  23. Nigeria  
24. Saint Kitts and Nevis  
25. Saint Lucia  
26. Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines  
27. Sierra Leone  
28. Solomon Islands  
29. Sri Lanka  
30. Tajikistan  
31. Tanzania  
32. Tonga  
33. Vanuatu  
__________