./.RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/RO/M/16
7 July 1998
(98-2678)
Committee on Rules of Origin
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 25-29 MAY 1998
Chairman:  Mr. R. Wells (Australia)
The agenda proposed for the meeting, cont ained in WTO/AIR/840, was adopted by the
Committee on Rules of Origin as follows:
Page
1. Endorsement of Basket  1 decisions contained in the Eleventh Report
of the Technical Committee on Rules of Origin to the Committee on
Rules of Origin (G/R O/23 and G/ROW/27)............................................................................... 1
2. Examination of product-specific rules of origin for Chapters 28-40
(Chemicals).................................................................................................................... .............. 1
3. Impact of the harmonization of rules of origin on the other WTO Agreements
(G/RO/W/28/Rev.1, 30-32)....................................................................................................... .. 2
4. Other business
- Date of the ne xt meeting................................................................................................... 2
1. Endorsement of Basket 1 d ecisions contained in the Elev enth Report of the Technical
Committee on Rules of Origin to the Committee on Rules of Origin (G/RO/23 and G/RO/W/27)
1.1 Since the French and Spanish versions of doc ument G/RO/23 had not been circulated in time,
the Committee agreed to revert to this issue at a future meeting.
2. Examination of product-specific rules of origin for Chapters 28-40 (chemicals)
2.1 The Chairman recalled that the Secretaria t had circulated advance copies of WCO
documents 42.538 and 42.539.  The status of  these documents was provisional.
2.2 The representative of Canada stated that a number of delegations had raised questions regarding
the Canadian proposal relating to Chapter 39, and the question of why Canada was seeking a 30 per cent
binding requirement.  His authorities were going to  reflect upon whether this binding requirement was
necessary to address the issue of the chemical reaction between polymer components, and would take
into account the views expressed by other delegations.
2.3 The Committee took note of the statements made.G/RO/M/16
Page 2
3. Impact of the harmonization of rules of origin on the other WTO Agreements
(G/RO/W/28/Rev.1, 30-32)
3.1 The Chairman drew attention to India's propos als on this matter which had been circulated as
documents G/RO/W/28/Rev.1 and 30, as well as a proposition from the United States which had been
circulated as document G/RO/W/32.  The Secretar iat had also circulated a working document in
G/RO/W/31 which compiled provisions relating to rule s of origin in various WTO Agreements.  A joint
proposal from the Dominican Republic and Honduras, as  well as a proposal by El Salvador concerning
this matter had also been circulated  informally that week (later circulated as documents G/RO/W33 and
34 respectively).
3.2 Based on the discussion at the informal meeting of the Committee on 28 May 1998, the
Committee agreed as follows:
"After having heard views of Members on this matter, the Committee agreed that delegations
should submit to the Secretariat, by 19 June 1998, any issues that they wish to be discussed,
formally or informally, at a future meeting of the Committee.  The Secretariat will compile the
list of issues and circulate it to Members."
3.3 The Committee also agreed to revert to this issue at a future meeting.
4. Other business
- Date of the next meeting
4.1 Based on informal consultations the Chairman had held with Members on this issue, it was
agreed that the Committee hold its next mee ting on 19 June 1998.  In connection with the
Harmonization Work Programme (HWP), there was a common understanding that, in light of the
complexity of issues and the remaining heavy wo rkload, the deadline of 20 July 1998 for completion of
the HWP could not be met.  The detailed plan for reor ganizing the future work would be discussed at the
next meeting.
__________