G/RO/78  
 
10 November  2016 
(16-6156) Page: 1/5 
   
 
 TWENT Y SECOND  ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE  IMPLEMENTATION AND  
OPERATION OF THE AGR EEMENT ON RULES OF O RIGIN  
BACKGROUND NOTE BY THE SECRETAR IAT1 
Article 6.1 of the Agreement on Rules of Origin provides that "the Committee shall review annually 
the implementation an d 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 Review 
to the Council for Trade in Goods on the implementation and operation of the Agreeme nt on Rules 
of Origin. This  background document is circulated by the Secretariat in preparation for the 
22nd annual review of the implementation and operation of the Agreement, to be conducted at the 
meeting of the Committee on Rules of Origin on 22 Septem ber 2016 . 
1  MEMBERS AND OBSERVER S OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES OF ORIGIN  
1.1 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 Bank.  
2  OFFICERS OF THE COMM ITTEE ON RULES OF OR IGIN  
2.1 Mr. Chih -Tung CHANG (Chinese Taipei ) was elected Chairman  of the Committee in 
May 2016. 
3  MEETINGS OF THE COMM ITTEE ON RULES OF OR IGIN  
3.1 The Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) held two formal meetings in 2016:  on 22 April and 
on 22 September.   The minutes of these meetings are contained in documents G/RO/M/ 66 and 
[G/RO/M/6 7] respectively.  A number of other activities related to the work of the Committee were 
also held, including informal consultations and two information  sessions on non -preferential rules 
of origin (on 21 April and on 22 September respectively) . 
4  NOTIFICATIONS  
4.1 The CRO took note of a number of new notifications under Artic le 5. On the basis of  
notifications received to date : 47 Members apply legislation or some requirements with respect to 
non-preferential origin (i.e. 34% of WTO Members, counting the EU and its member states as 
one); 56 Members do not apply any non -prefere ntial rules of origin; and 35 Members have not yet 
submitted any notification under A rticle 5  (see Annex 1 for a detailed list).  
4.2 To improve transparency with respect to existing non -preferential rules of origin and to 
facilitate access to such informat ion, notifications under Art icle 5 of the Agreement are being 
incorporated into the WTO Integrated Trade Intelligence Portal (I -TIP), the database through 
which Members can consult information about national trade policy measures ( http://i -
tip.wto.org ).  In addition, the Secretariat is also revamping the rules of origin page of the WTO 
website to list the notifications received with links to the corresponding websites or legislation 
whenever these are available.  Work on both I -TIP and the WTO webpage should be completed by 
the end of 2016.  
                                                
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/78  
 
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  4.3 Finally, with respect to preferential rules of origin , a number of notifications have been 
received  by the Secretariat . Most commonly, these notifications were submitted to the Comm ittee 
on Regional Trade Agreements or the Committee on Trade and Development  and subsequently 
circulated to the CRO .  After the conclusion of a regional trade agreement between Mongolia and 
Japan, a ll Members of the WTO implement at least one set of prefer ential rules of origin . 
5  WORK OF THE COMMITTE E (PARTS II AND III OF  THE AGREEMENT)  
5.1 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 tr ansitional disciplines 
pending the adoption of harmonized rules (Article 2) and the disciplines once harmonized rules of 
origin have been adopted (Article 3). As it is, and noted in the Committee's 2013 Annual Report to 
the Council for Trade in Goods ( 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 central objective of the Agreement. Also, there are currently no procedures to 
examine existing rul es of origin in light of the disciplines of Article II.  
5.2  Pending the continuation of the H WP, the Committee agreed to initiate a n "educational 
exercise"  to exchange information about non -preferential rules of origin and better understand the 
impact tha t existing rules have on international trade . Members therefore participated in two 
"information sessions" and heard presentations about the impact of rules of origin on international 
trade and on the operation  of businesses . The presentations made were ci rculated to Members in 
documents RD/RO/36, RD/RO/37, RD/RO/38, RD/RO/39 , RD/RO /40, RD/RO/41, RD/RO/42, 
RD/RO/43, RD/RO/45, RD/RO/46 and RD/RO/47 . In addition, summaries of the sessions held on 
21 April and on 21 September have been prepared and circulated in documents G/RO/W/162 and 
G/RO/W/167 respectively.  
5.3 With respect to the "transposition exercise" and the adjustment of draft harmonized rules of 
origin (G/RO/W/111/Rev.6) to reflect more recent versions of the HS nomenclature (JOB/RO/5 
series), Member s agreed to validate the accuracy of the transposed rules. The validation 
concerned merely the technical accuracy of the transposed rules and did not entail an 
endorsement of the rules themselves. It was also agreed that the transposed rules should remain 
a working document and  that, therefore, Members, could submit comments to the transposed 
rules at any time.  
5.4  With relation to other areas of work of the CRO , it should be noted that Members conducted 
a review of new developments in preferential rules o f origin for LDCs according to the 
requirements of the 2013 and 2015 Ministerial Decision s (WT/L/917  and WT/L/917 /Add.1) . 
As required by the Decisions, a detailed report on this issue was prepared for the General Council 
(G/RO/ 79) and an oral report will b e made to the Sub -Committee  on LDCs . 
6  AMENDMENTS, INTERPRE TATIONS AND RECTIFIC ATIONS TO THE AGREEM ENT 
6.1 During the year under review the Committee has not dealt with any of these matters.  
7  CONSULTATION AND DIS PUTE SETTLEMENT  
7.1 The Secretariat is not awar e 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 ). 
8  REPORT TO THE COUNCI L FOR TRADE IN GOODS  
8.1 Members adopted the Committee's  annual report (G/RO/W/166 /Rev.2) and forwarded it to 
the CTG (G/L/1159) . G/RO/78  
 
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  ANNEX 1  
A. Members that do not implement n on-preferential rules of origin  
Member  Do NOT apply NP RO Date  
Document Symbol  
1. Belize  G/RO/N/147  01.09.2016  
2. Benin G/RO/N/149  01.09.2016  
3. Bolivia, Plurinational State of  G/RO/N/9  19.04.1996  
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  09.05.1995  
11. Côte d'Ivoire  G/NO/N/117  25.08.2014  
12. Cyprus  G/RO/N/19  23.01.1998  
13. Dominica  G/RO/N/24  15.01.1999  
14. Dominican Republic  G/RO/N/9  19.04.1996  
15. El Salvador  G/RO/N/10  16.08.1996  
16. Fiji G/RO/N/17  10.04.1997  
17. The Gambia  G/RO/N/1 09 31.01.2014  
18. Ghana  G/RO/N/44  06.05.2004  
19. Guatemala  G/RO/N/21  20.07.1998  
20. Guyana  G/RO/N/42  10.12.2003  
21. Haiti G/RO/N/20/Rev.1  14.05.1998  
22. Honduras  G/RO/N/3  27.07.1995  
23. Iceland  G/RO/N/5  01.11.1995  
24. India G/RO/N/1  09.05.1995  
25. Indonesia  G/RO/N/16  05.03.1997  
26. Israel  G/RO/N/13  19.11.1996  
27. Jamaica  G/RO/N/4  07.08.1995  
28. Kenya  G/RO/N/9  19.04.1996  
29. Kuwait, the State of  G/RO/N/100  1909.2013  
30. Macao, China  G/RO/N/21  20.07.1998  
31. Malawi  G/RO/N/129  04/06/2015  
32. Malaysia  G/RO/N/6  19.12.1995  
33. Maldives  G/RO/N/22  16.09.1998  
34. Mali G/RO/N/116  11.07.2014  
35. Mauritius  G/RO/N/1  09.05.1995  
36. Mongolia  G/RO/N/20/Rev.1  14.05.1998  
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 Gui nea 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  02.08.2013  
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  09.05.199 5 
50. Trinidad and Tobago  G/RO/N/7  12.02.1996  
51. Uganda  G/RO/N/13  19.01.1996  
52. United Arab Emirates  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. Yemen  G/RO/N/140  11.04.2016  
56. Zamb ia G/RO/N/142  17.06.2016  G/RO/78  
 
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  B. Members that current ly implement non -preferential rules of origin  
Member  APPLY NPRO  Date  
Document Symbol  
1. Albania  G/RO/N/47  06.07.2005  
G/RO/N/53  18.09.2007  
2. Argentina  G/RO/N/2  22.06.1995  
G/RO/N/10  16.08.1996  
G/RO/N/16  05.03.1997  
3. Armenia  G/RO/N/41  21.08.2003  
4. Australia  G/RO/N/1  09.05.1995  
5. Brazil  G/RO/N/14  02.12.1996  
G/RO/N/78  16.04.2012  
6. Burkina Faso  G/RO/N/19  23.01.1998  
7. Canada  G/RO/N/1  09.05.1995  
8. China  G/RO/N/37/Rev.1  02.08.2002  
9. Colombia  G/RO/N/1  09.05.1995  
10. Cuba G/RO/N/3  27.07.1995  
G/RO/N/125  13.01.2015  
11. European Union1 G/RO/N/1  09.05.1995  
12. Georgia  G/RO/N/37 /Rev.1  03.06.2002  
13. Hong Kong, China  G/RO/N/1  09.05.1995  
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/ Rev.1  03.06.2002  
G/RO/N/46  15.02.2005  
G/RO/N/59  23.09.2008  
G/RO/N/67  02.12.2010  
G/RO/N/73  15.09.2011  
G/RO/N/86  01/10/2012  
14. Japan  G/RO/N/1  09.05.1995  
15. Jordan  G/RO/N/30  21.11.2000  
16. Kazakhstan  G/RO/N/148  01.09.2016  
17. Korea  G/RO/N/1  09.05.1995  
G/RO/N/63  18.09.2009  
18. Lao People's Democratic Republic  G/RO/N/96  24.07.2013  
19. Lesotho  G/RO/N/56  27.05.2008  
20. Liechtenstein  G/RO/N/60/Rev.1  08.04.2009  
21. Madagascar  G/RO/N/11  10.09.1996  
22. Mexico  G/RO/N/12  01.10.1996  
23. Moldova, Republic of  G/RO/N/36  12.03.2002  
G/RO/N/110  14.02.2014  
G/RO/N/110/Add.1  10.10.2014  
24. Montenegro  G/RO/N/126  20.02.2015  
25. Morocco  G/RO/N/2  22.06.1995  
26. New Zealand  G/RO/N/1  09.05.1995  
27. Niger  G/RO/N/19  23.01.1998  
28. Norway  G/RO/N/8  05.03.1996  
G/RO/N/62  26.05.2009  
29. 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  12.032012  
30. Qatar  G/RO/N/25  13.04.1999  
31. Russian Federation  G/RO/N/84/Corr.1  27/09/2012  
32. Rwanda  G/RO/N/75  24.02.2012  
33. Senegal  G/RO/N/10  16.08.1996  
34. Seychelles  G/RO/N/141  02.05.2016  
35. South Africa  G/RO/N/3  27.07.1995  
                                                
1 All notifications received from countries prior to joining the EU do not appear in the table  G/RO/78  
 
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  Member  APPLY NPRO  Date  
Document Symbol  
36. Suriname  G/RO/N/24  15.01.1999  
G/RO/N/43  15.03.2004  
37. Switzerland  G/RO/N/4  07.08.1995  
G/RO/N/60/Rev.1  08.04.2009  
38. Chinese Taipei  G/RO/N/37 /Rev.1  03.06.2002  
39. The former  Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia  G/RO/N/45  09.11.2004  
40. Togo G/RO/N/70  16.06.2011  
41. Tunisia  G/RO/N/7  12.02.1996  
G/RO/N/61  19.02.2009  
42. Turkey  G/RO/N/8  05.03.1996  
G/RO/N/28  30.05.2000  
43. Ukraine  G/RO/N/81  10.08.2012 
44. United States of America  G/RO/N/1  09.05.1995  
G/RO/N/6  19.12.1995  
G/RO/N/12  01.10.1996  
45. Venezue la, Bolivarian Rep ublic of G/RO/N/1  09.05.1995  
G/RO/N/10  16.08.1996  
G/RO/N/14  02.12.1996  
46. Yemen  G/RO/N/140  08.04 .2016 
47. Zimbabwe  G/RO/N/80  18.07.2012  
 
C. Members that have not yet presented a notification under Art.5 of the Agreement on 
Rules of Origin  
1. Afghanistan  13. Ecuador  25. Nigeria  
2. Angola  14. Egypt  26. Saint Kitts and Nevis  
3. Antigua and Barbuda  15. Gabon  27. Saint Lucia  
4. Bahrain, Kingdom of  16. Grenada  28. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  
5. Bangladesh  17. Guinea  29. Sierra Leone  
6. Barbados  18. Guinea -Bissau  30. Solomon Islands  
7. Botswana  19. Kyrgyz Republic  31. Sri Lanka  
8. Cabo Verde  20. Liberia  32. Tajikistan  
9. Cambodia  21. Mauritania  33. Tanzania  
10. Central African Republic  22. Mozambique  34. Tonga  
11. Democratic  Republic of Congo  23. Myanmar  35. Vanuatu  
12. Djibouti  24. Nepal  
 
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