RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/RO/M/46 
8 December 2004 
 
 (04-5397) 
Committee on Rules of Origin  
 
  
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 21 AND 22 OCTOBER 2004  
 
Chairperson:  Ms. Vera Thorstensen
 
 
 
I. REPORT OF THE WORK OF THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON RULES 
OF ORIGIN...................................................................................................................... .........1  
A. OTHER SECRETARIAT ACTIVITIES ...............................................................................................2  
II. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 5 AND PARAGRAPH 4 OF ANNEX II 
OF THE AGREEMENT ON RULES OF ORIGIN (G/RO/N/42-44) ..................................2  
III. TRANSITIONAL REVIEW UNDER PARAGRAPH 18 OF THE PROTOCOL OF ACCESSION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (WT/L/432, 
WT/ACC/CHN/49 AND G/RO/53)..........................................................................................3
 
IV. ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION OF 
THE AGREEMENT ON RULES OF ORIGIN (G/RO/W/100) ...........................................3  
V. ANNUAL REPORT (2004) TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS 
(G/RO/W/101) ................................................................................................................... ........3  
VI. OTHER BUSINESS................................................................................................................. .3 
A. DATES AND AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING ............................................................................3  
 
 
I. REPORT OF THE WORK OF THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON RULES OF 
ORIGIN 
1.1 The representative of the WCO , Mr. P-P. de Vaucher, stated that the last session of the 
Technical Committee on Rules of Origin (TCRO) was he ld at the WCO headquarters in Brussels from 
28-29 January 2004, under the Chairmanship of Ms. Brenda Goulet (Canada). 
 
1.2 As part of its permanent responsibilities, the TCRO adopted its Fifth Periodic Report and its 
Fifth Annual Review on technical aspects of the oper ation and status of the Origin Agreement for the 
period from 1 January-31 December 2003.  The Annual Review was very brief because the 
Agreement was not yet operating in practice, and to date the TCRO had not been asked to look into 
any specific problems or questions. The Periodic Report also concerned technical aspects of the 
operation of the Agreement, but included, in addition, information about the activities of the 
Secretariat and the work of the TCRO.  Both documents can be found on the WCO Members Web 
site, in the section concerning the Technical Committee's 22nd Session. 
 
1.3 At the 22nd Session, a representative of a Singapore-based company gave a presentation 
about an electronic system for the transmission of documents, which could be used to transmit the 
certificate of origin.  The system involved the use of  an interactive platform for an exporter, his buyer, 
the bank, the insurance company, the carrier and the forwarding agent, for the exchange of documents G/RO/M/46 
Page 2  
 
 concerning an international trade transaction.   Under the system, the electronic documents created by 
a user were stored in a single, secure register, an d any other user could access them if he had been 
duly approved and knew the secret code.  The elect ronic document could be printed out by any of the 
approved users, such as the Customs service for example, at any time.  This presentation gave rise to 
an exchange of views within the TCRO, and a question as to whether the system could indicate that 
the document was in compliance with  a specific rule of origin wa s answered in the negative. The 
electronic system was me rely a transmission medium for information provided by the exporter.  
 
A. O
THER SECRETARIAT ACTIVITIES  
Technical assistance activities  
 
1.4 Between February 2003 and February 2004 , the Secretariat carried out two technical 
assistance activities related to the harmonization of no n-preferential rules of origin, namely a national 
seminar in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and a regional seminar in the Czech 
Republic.  Both events were funded by Japan. 
 Customs/business meeting 
 
 
1.5 A customs/business meeting on the theme "What does the future hold for rules of origin?" 
was held on 26 and 27 January 2004 at the Headquarters of the World Customs Organization in 
Brussels.  The two-day event was attended by 315 participants representing Member countries, the 
private sector and regional and international organi zations.   A representative of the WTO Secretariat 
reported on the Harmonization Work Programme for non- preferential rules of or igin, with particular 
reference to the latest developments on the question of implications. All of this information was very 
well received by the private sector . Some participants indicated that they would like the HWP to be 
completed as swiftly as possible.  
 
1.6 The remainder of the meeting was devoted to pr eferential rules of origin, and in particular 
their role as an instrument of trade policy, their co mplexity, and the issue of training in this field for 
both the public and private sectors.  There was general agreement that an effort should be made to 
make these rules clearer, simpler and more consistent.  This in fact echoed the Common Declaration 
on preferential rules of origin which app eared in Annex II of the WTO Agreement. 
 1.7 The Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) took note
 of the report and expressed appreciation 
for the TCRO's continued valuable work. 
 
 
II. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 5 AND PARAGRAPH 4 OF ANNEX II OF THE 
AGREEMENT ON RULES OF ORIGIN (G/RO/N/42-44) 
2.1 The Chairperson  recalled that since the last meeting the Secretariat had circulated three 
documents informing delegations of notifications  submitted by El Salvador, Ghana, Guyana and 
Suriname.  To date, 76 Members had made notifica tions of non-preferential rules of origin and 82 
Members had made notifications of preferential rules of origin. 
 2.2 The Chairperson
 expressed concern that a number of Members had not yet complied with the 
notification requirements.  She urged Members who ha d not yet notified to do so as early as possible. 
 
2.3 The CRO took note  of the statement. 
 
  G/RO/M/46 
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 III. TRANSITIONAL REVIEW UNDER PARAGRAPH 18 OF THE PROTOCOL OF 
ACCESSION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (WT/L/432, 
WT/ACC/CHN/49 AND G/RO/53) 
3.1 The Chairperson  noted that in accordance with paragraph 18 of the Protocol of Accession of 
the People's Republic of China, the CRO was to re port to the Council for Trade in Goods on the 
outcome of the Review which would then report  to the General Council.  The Committee had 
conducted its second Review at the last meeting, where China had explained the implementation of its 
commitments with regard to rules of origin and responded to the questions raised. 
 
3.2 The CRO took note  of the statements made, and agreed  that the Secretariat prepare a short 
factual report, under the Chair's responsibility, to be sent to the Council for Trade in Goods. 
 
 
IV. ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION OF THE 
AGREEMENT ON RULES OF ORIGIN (G/RO/W/100) 
4.1 The Chairperson  noted that the Secretariat had circulated, in document G/RO/W/100, the 
draft Review of the Implementation and Operation of the Agreement.  Although Article 6.1 required 
that the CRO review annually the implementation an d operation of Parts II and III of the Agreement, 
the CRO's main concern had been the work un der Part IV of the Agreement namely the 
Harmonization Work Programme, to which the CRO's formal and informal sessions were devoted up 
until the end of 2002.  After forwarding 94 core policy issues to the General Council for discussion and decision at that level, however, the CRO wa s mandated by the General Council to complete the 
remaining technical work only after resolution of those 94 issues by the General Council.  This was 
the reason why the CRO had held only one meeting per year since November 2002. 
 
4.2 The Committee adopted
 the Annual Review of the Impl ementation and Operation of the 
Agreement on Rules of Origin contained in documen t G/RO/W/100.  The document would be revised 
in light of the discussion at this meeting of the CRO and issued in the G/RO/- series. 
 V. ANNUAL REPORT (2004) TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS 
(G/RO/W/101) 
5.1 The Chairperson
 noted that the Secretariat had circulat ed a draft of the CRO's report to the 
Council for Trade in Goods (G/RO/W/101), as required  by Article 6.1 of the Agreement and that this 
would be revised in light of the discussion at this meeting of the CRO. 
 5.2 The CRO adopted
 its annual report to the CTG (G/L/704). 
 
VI. OTHER BUSINESS 
A. DATES AND AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING  
7.1 The Chairperson  suggested that the dates and agenda for the next meeting be set in 
consultation with delegations and also in ligh t of developments in the General Council. 
 
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