RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/RO/W/47
15 October 1999
(99-4426)
Committee on Rules of Origin
FIFTH ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND
OPERATION OF THE AGREEMENT ON RULES OF ORIGIN
Note by the Secretariat
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 toits objectives".  This background document is circulated by the Secretariat in preparation for the fifth
annual review of the implementation and operation of the Agreement on Rules of Origin, to be
conducted at the meeting of the Committee on Rules of Origin on 5 November 1999.G/RO/W/47
Page 2
The contents of this document are as follows:
1. Members and Observer status.................................................................................................3
2. Officers of the Committ ee on Rules of  Origin........................................................................4
3. Meetings of the Committe e on Rules of Origin ......................................................................4
4. Harmonization of Rules of Origin...........................................................................................4
5. Trade Facilitation ........................................................................................................... ..........6
6. Notifications of Rules of Origin ............................................................................................. ..6
7. Annual Report to the Council for Trade in Goods ................................................................6G/RO/W/47
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1. Members and Observer status
(a) WTO Members (134)
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
AustraliaAustria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
BeninBolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
BulgariaBurkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Canada
Central African RepublicChad
Chile
Colombia
Congo
Congo, Democratic Republic of theCosta Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech RepublicDenmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
EC
Ecuador
EgyptEl Salvador
Fiji
Finland
France
GabonGambia
GermanyGhana
Greece
Grenada
GuatemalaGuinea Bissau
Guinea, Republic of
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong, China
HungaryIceland
India
Indonesia
Ireland
IsraelItaly
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
KoreaKuwait
Kyrgyz Republic
Latvia
Lesotho
LiechtensteinLuxembourg
Macau
Madagascar
Malawi
MalaysiaMaldives
Mali
Malta
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
MongoliaMorocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
NetherlandsNew Zealand
NicaraguaNiger
Nigeria
Norway
PakistanPanama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
PortugalQatar
Romania
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint LuciaSaint Vincent & Grenada
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovak RepublicSlovenia
Solomon Islands
South AfricaSpain
Sri LankaSuriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
TanzaniaThailand
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
United Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Venezuela
ZambiaZimbabweG/RO/W/47
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(b) Observer Governments (37)
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
ArmeniaAzerbaijan
Belarus
Bosnia and 
Herzegovina
Bhutan
CambodiaCape Verde
China
CroatiaEstonia
Ethiopia
Georgia
F. Yugoslav Rep. of 
Macedonia
Holy See
JordanKazakhstan
Laos, P.D.R. of
LebanonLithuania
Moldova
NepalOman
Russian Federation
Samoa
Saudi ArabiaSeychelles
Sudan
Taipei, ChineseTonga
Ukraine
UzbekistanVanuatu
Viet Nam
Yemen
(c) Observer International Organizations (9)
1
ACP
EFTA
IADB
IMF
ITCB
OECDUNCTAD
WCO
World Bank
2. Officers of the Committee on Rules of Origin
Chairman: Mr. Sandy Moroz (Canada)
Vice-Chairman: Mr. S.I. M. Nayyar (Pakistan)
3. Meetings of the Committee on Rules of Origin
During the reporting period, the Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) has held [six] formal
meetings on 22 and 26 February, 23 April, 1 and 23 July, 1 October and [5 November] 1999.  The
minutes of these meetings are cont ained in documents G/RO/M/21-[26].
4. Harmonization of Rules of Origin
4.1 The Chairman of the Technical Committee on Rules of Origin (TCRO) submitted to the CRO,
in January 1999, a report on progress  made at the 15
th Session of the TCRO at which the overall
architecture of the harmonized rules of origin was discussed. The report stated that while measurableprogress had been made, particularly in respect of the general rules,  the TCRO was unable to
complete the work, as scheduled.  The main reason for this delay was a divergence of views over the
method of application for the primary and residual rules.  Having exhausted the technical debate, this
matter was submitted to the CRO (see G/RO/ 32, paragraphs 6 and 7, G/RO/33, paragraph 3).
4.2 At the meeting on 22 and 26 February 1999, the CRO:
- discussed the issue of the application of the primary rules and residual rules. It was
considered necessary to clarify further points raised by delegations concerning certain
                                                     
1 These organizations have official observer status following agreement in the Committee (G/RO/M/9) and
agreements between the World Bank and the IMF with the WTO (WT/L/195).G/RO/W/47
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administrative aspects of the application of the three options in the template as well as points
raised concerning matters of substance.  The CRO agreed to submit these questions to the
proponents of options A, B and C for further clarification (G/RO/W/41).  At the same time,
the CRO transmitted these questions also to the TCRO for consideration whether it might be
able to contribute to clarifying the questions (G/RO/M/21, Paragraph 1);
- sent a progress report to the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG) (G/RO/M/21,
paragraph 3).
4.3 The Chairman of the TCRO submitted to the CRO, in April 1999, a report on progress made
at the 16th Session of the TCRO.   At that Session the TCRO discussed the overall architecture, and
took note of questions posed by the CRO to propone nts of the various options. The TCRO agreed that
a “single text” suggested by the WCO Secretariat would constitute the basis for further discussions.
4.4 At its meeting on 23 April 1999, the CRO, recalling the agreement it had reached at its
meeting in July 1998, that the 17th Session of the TCRO should be its final meeting concerning the
Harmonization Work Programme (HWP), agreed to co nfirm that agreement in  a letter to the TCRO
(G/RO/M/22, paragraph 1, G/RO/26).
4.5 The Chairman of the TCRO submitted to the CRO, in June 1999, a report on progress made at
the 17th  Session of the TCRO.  The report stated that the TCRO:
- had pursued its technical discussions of the harmonized rules of origin and had
authorized its Chairman to report to the CRO the cumulative views expressed and the
decisions reached during its 17th Session as the results of its work on harmonization of rules
of origin for endorsement or further examination (G/RO/37, paragraph 3);
- conducted detailed discussions of the provisional text containing the overall
architecture of the harmonized rules of origin.  This provisional text was submitted to the
CRO with brackets indicating the remaining concerns of TCRO Members (G/RO/37,
paragraph 5); and
- continued to examine residual rules proposed for application to particular product
sectors (G/RO/37, paragraph 7).
4.6 At its meeting on 1 July 1999 (G/RO/M/23), the CRO:
- discussed the issue of the application of primary and residual rules;- could not reach agreement on a proposal for recommendation of a deadline for the
completion of the HWP;
- adopted its progress report to the CTG (G/RO/38);- discussed a proposal from India concerning the implications of the implementation of
the harmonized rules of origin on other WTO Agreements (G/RO/W/42).
4.7 At its meeting on 23 July 1999 (G/RO/M/24), the CRO:
- discussed the overall architecture of the harmonized rules of origin.  As concerns the
issue of the application of the primary and residual rules, new texts were submitted by the
European Communities, India, the Philippines and the United States.  Hong Kong, China and
India submitted a joint proposal (G/RO/41, pages 30-35).  Consensus was reached for the text
of paragraph 3 of Appendix 1 "Accessories and spare parts and tools" (G/RO/41, page 7) and
the corresponding text of Rule 5(a)  of Appendix 2 (G/RO/41, page 15);G/RO/W/47
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- discussed product-specific rules of origin for Chapters 25-27 (minerals), 44-49 (wool
and paper), and 71 (precious stones and metals).
4.8 At its meeting on 1 October 1999 (G/RO/25), the CRO:
- discussed the issue of the application of the primary and residual rules;
- discussed product-specific rules of origin for Chapters 25-27 (minerals), 28-40
(chemicals) 44-49 (wool and paper), and 71 (precious stones and metals).
4.9 [At its meeting of 5 November 1999...]
[to be finalized in light of discussions at the meeting of the CRO in November 1999]
5. Trade Facilitation
5.1 At the request of the Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG), the CRO had
discussions on those aspects of trade facilitation regarded as being related to the Agreement on Rules
of Origin.  The summary of these discussions was sent  to the Chairman of the CTG in a letter dated 26
February 1999 (G/RO/M/21, paragraph 4).
6. Notifications of Rules of Origin
(i) Non-preferential rules of origin
6.1 Notifications relating to non-preferential ru les of origin under Articles 5.1 and 5.2 of the
Agreement have been received from [72] Members of which [38] Members notified that they do not
have non-preferential rules of origin.  [47] Member s have not yet notified their non-preferential rules of
origin (see Annex).
(ii) Preferential rules of origin
6.2 Notifications relating to preferential rules of origin under paragraph 4 of Annex II to the
Agreement have been received from [75] Members,  of which two Members notified that they do not
have preferential rules of origin.  [44] Members have  not yet notified their preferential rules of origin
(see Annex).
7. Annual Report to the Council for Trade in Goods
The CRO adopted its report to the CTG at  its meeting on 1 October 1999 (G/L/326).
[Report to be finalized in light of discussi ons at the meeting of the CRO in November 1999.]G/RO/W/47
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ANNEX
1. Members that have notified Non-Preferential Rules of Origin (34)
Argentina (G/RO/N/2, 10 & 16)
Australia (G/RO/N/1)
Burkina Faso (G/RON/19)Bulgaria (G/RO/N/17)
Canada (G/RO/N/1)
Colombia (G/RO/N/1)Cuba (G/RO/N/3)
Czech Rep. (G/RO/N/2)
EC (G/RO/N/1)Hong Kong, China (G/RO/N/1)Hungary (G/RO/N/2)
Israel (G/RO/N/13)Japan (G/RO/N/1)
Korea (G/RO/N/1)
Latvia (G/RO/N/25)Madagascar (G/RO/N/11)
Mexico (G/RO/N/12)
Morocco (G/RO/N/2)New Zealand (G/RO/N/1)
Niger (G/RON/19)
Norway (G/RO/N/8)Peru (G/RO/N/4 & 5)Poland (G/RO/N/8)
Qatar (G/RO/N/25) Romania (G/RO/N/1)
Senegal (G/RO/N/10)
Slovak Republic (G/RO/N/1)Slovenia (G/RO/N/5 & 7)
South Africa (G/RO/N/3)
Switzerland (G/RO/N/4)Tunisia (G/RO/N/7)
Turkey (G/RO/N/8)
US (G/RO/N/1 & 6)Venezuela (G/RO/N/1 & 10)
2. Members that have notified that they do not  have Non-Preferential Rules of Origin (38)
Bolivia (G/RO/N/9)
Brazil (G/RO/N/14)
Brunei Darussalam
(G/RO/N/5)Chad (G/RO/N22)
Chile (G/RO/N/6)
Costa Rica (G/RO/N/1)Cyprus ((G/RON/19)
Dominica (G/RO/N/24)
Dominican Rep. (G/RO/N/9)El Salvador (G/RO/N/10)
Fiji (G/RO/N/17)
Guatemala (G/RO/N/21)Haiti (G/RO/N/20)
Honduras (G/RO/N/3)
Iceland (G/RO/N/5)
India (G/RO/N/1)Indonesia (G/RO/N/16)
Jamaica (G/RO/N/4)
Kenya (G/RO/N/9)Macau (G/RO/N/21)
Malaysia (G/RO/N/6)
Maldives (G/RO/N/22)Malta (G/RO/N/4)
Mauritius (G/RO/N/1)
Mongolia (G/RO/N/20)Namibia (G/RO/N/26)Nicaragua (G/RO/N/10)
Pakistan (G/RO/N/16)
Panama (G/RO/N/23)
Paraguay (G/RO/N/21)Philippines (G/RO/N/6)
Singapore (G/RO/N/3)
Suriname (G/RO/N/24)Thailand (G/RO/N/1)
Trinidad & Tob. (G/RO/N/7)
Uganda (G/RO/N/12)United Arab Emirates (G/RO/N/17)
Uruguay (G/RO/N/12)
3. Members that have not notified N on-Preferential Rules of Origin (47)
Angola
Antigua & Barbuda
Bahrain
BangladeshBarbados
Belize
BeninBotswana
Burundi
CameroonCentral African Rep.
CongoCôte d'Ivoire
D.R. of Congo
Djibouti
EcuadorEgypt
Gabon
GambiaGhana
Grenada
Guinea BissauGuinea, Rep. of
GuyanaKuwait
Kyrgyz Rep.
Lesotho
LiechtensteinMalawi
Mali
MauritaniaMozambique
Myanmar
NigeriaPapua New Guinea
RwandaSaint Kitts & Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent &
GrenadinesSierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Sri LankaSwaziland
Tanzania
TogoZambia
ZimbabweG/RO/W/47
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___________4. Members that have notified Pref erential Rules of Origin (73)
Argentina (G/RO/N/16)
Australia (G/RO/N/1)
Bolivia (G/RO/N/1, 22&23)Brazil (G/RO/N/12)Brunei Darussalam
(G/RO/N/4)
Bulgaria(G/RO/N/15, 22&23)
Burkina Faso (G/RO/N/19)
Canada (G/RO/N/1, 6 & 8)Chad (G/RO/N/22)
Chile (G/RO/N/6)
Colombia (G/RO/N/1)Costa Rica
(G/RO/N/20/Rev.1)
Côte d'Ivoire (G/RO/N/11)Cuba (G/RO/N/3)
Cyprus (G/RO/N/19)
Czech Rep. (G/RO/N/2, 22& 23)
Dominica (G/RO/N/24)
Dominican Rep. (G/RO/N/5)EC (G/RO/N/1)
Ecuador (G/RO/N/12)
El Salvador (G/RO/N/10 &11)
Fiji (G/RO/N/17)
Guatemala (G/RO/N/21)
Haiti (G/RO/N/20)
Honduras (G/RO/N/3 & 10)Hungary (G/RO/N/2, 22 &
23)
Iceland (G/RO/N/15, 22 &
23)
India (G/RO/N/1)Indonesia (G/RO/N/4)
Israel (G/RO/N/13)
Jamaica (G/RO/N/4)
Japan (G/RO/N/6)
Kenya (G/RO/N/9)Korea (G/RO/N/7)
Latvia (G/RO/N/25)
Liechtenstein (G/RO/N/22)
Madagascar (G/RO/N/11)
Malaysia (G/RO/N/4)Maldives (G/RO/N/22)
Malta (G/RO/N/4)
Mauritius (G/RO/N/1)
Mexico (G/RO/N/12)
Mongolia (G/RO/N/20)Morocco (G/RO/N/2)
Namibia (G/RO/N/26)
New Zealand (G/RO/N/1)
Nicaragua (G/RO/N/10)
Niger (G/RON/19)Norway (G/RO/N/8, 22 &
23)
Pakistan (G/RO/N/16)
Panama (G/RO/N/23)Paraguay (G/RO/N/12)
Peru (G/RO/N/1)
Philippines (G/RO/N/4)
Poland (G/RO/N/8, 22 & 23)
Qatar (G/RO/N/25)Romania (G/RO/N/14, 22 &
23)
Senegal (G/RO/N/10)
Singapore (G/RO/N/3 & 4)
Slovak Republic (G/RO/N/1,22 & 23)
Slovenia (G/RO/N/5, 7, 22
& 23)
Suriname (G/RO/N/24)
Switzerland (G/RO/N/6, 22& 23)
Thailand (G/RO/N/1 & 4)
Trinidad &Tob. (G/RO/N/7
& 24)
Tunisia (G/RO/N/7)Turkey (G/RO/N/8)
Uganda (G/RO/N/12)
United Arab Emirates
(G/RO/N/17)
US (G/RO/N/1 , 6 & 18)Uruguay (G/RO/N/5)
Venezuela (G/RO/N/1)
Zambia (G/RO/N/15)
5. Members that have notified that they do not  have Preferential Rules of Origin (2)
Hong Kong, China (G/RO/N/1).
Macau (G/RO/N/21)
6. Members that have not notified Preferential Rules of Origin (44)
Angola
Antigua & Barbuda
Bahrain
BangladeshBarbados
Belize
Benin
Botswana
BurundiCameroon
Cent. African Rep.
Congo
D.R. of Congo
DjiboutiEgypt
GabonGambia
Ghana
Grenada
Guinea BissauGuinea, Rep. of
Guyana
Kyrgyz Rep.
Kuwait
LesothoMalawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mozambique
MyanmarNigeria
Papua New GuineaRwanda
St. Kitts & Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent & GrenadinesSierra Leone
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Sri Lanka
SwazilandTanzania
Togo
Zimbabwe