Page209
AGREEMENT ONRULES OFORIGIN
Members,
Noting thatMinisters on20September 1986 agreed thattheUruguay Round ofMultilateral
Trade Negotiations shallaimto"bring about further liberalization andexpansion ofworld trade",
"strengthen theroleofGATT" and"increase theresponsiveness oftheGATT system totheevolving
international economic environment";
Desiring tofurther theobjectives ofGATT 1994;
Recognizing thatclearandpredictable rulesoforigin andtheirapplication facilitate theflow
ofinternational trade;
Desiring toensure thatrulesoforigin themselves donotcreate unnecessary obstacles totrade;
Desiring toensure thatrules oforigin donotnullify orimpair therights ofMembers under
GATT 1994;
Recognizing thatitisdesirable toprovide transparency oflaws, regulations, andpractices
regarding rules oforigin;
Desiring toensure thatrules oforigin areprepared andapplied inanimpartial, transparent,
predictable, consistent andneutral manner;
Recognizingtheavailabilityofaconsultationmechanismandproceduresforthespeedy,effective
andequitable resolution ofdisputes arising under thisAgreement;
Desiring toharmonize andclarify rules oforigin;
Hereby agree asfollows:
PART I
DEFINITIONS AND COVERAGE
Article 1
Rules ofOrigin
1. Forthepurposes ofParts ItoIVofthisAgreement, rulesoforigin shallbedefined asthose
laws, regulations andadministrative determinations ofgeneral application applied byanyMember to
determine thecountry oforigin ofgoods provided suchrules oforigin arenotrelated tocontractual
orautonomous traderegimes leading tothegranting oftariffpreferences going beyond theapplication
ofparagraph 1ofArticle IofGATT 1994.
2. Rules oforigin referred toinparagraph 1shallinclude allrulesoforigin usedinnon-preferential
commercial policy instruments, suchasintheapplication of:most-favoured-nation treatment under
Articles I,II,III,XIandXIIIofGATT 1994; anti-dumping andcountervailing duties under Article VI
ofGATT 1994; safeguard measures under Article XIXofGATT 1994; origin marking requirementsPage210
under Article IXofGATT 1994; andanydiscriminatory quantitative restrictions ortariff quotas.
They shallalsoinclude rules oforigin usedforgovernment procurement andtrade statistics.1
PART II
DISCIPLINES TOGOVERN THE APPLICATION OFRULES OFORIGIN
Article 2
Disciplines During theTransition Period
Until thework programme fortheharmonization ofrules oforigin setoutinPartIVis
completed, Members shallensure that:
(a) when theyissueadministrative determinations ofgeneral application, therequirements
tobefulfilled areclearly defined. Inparticular:
(i) incases where thecriterion ofchange oftariff classification isapplied, such
aruleoforigin, andanyexceptions totherule, must clearly specify the
subheadings orheadings within thetariff nomenclature thatareaddressed by
therule;
(ii) incases where theadvalorem percentage criterion isapplied, themethod for
calculating thispercentage shallalsobeindicated intherules oforigin;
(iii) incases where thecriterion ofmanufacturing orprocessing operation is
prescribed, theoperation thatconfers origin onthegood concerned shallbe
precisely specified;
(b) notwithstanding themeasure orinstrument ofcommercial policy towhich theyare
linked, theirrules oforigin arenotusedasinstruments topursue trade objectives
directly orindirectly;
(c) rulesoforigin shallnotthemselves create restrictive, distorting, ordisruptive effects
oninternational trade. They shallnotposeunduly strict requirements orrequire the
fulfilment ofacertain condition notrelated tomanufacturing orprocessing, asa
prerequisite forthedetermination ofthecountry oforigin. However, costsnotdirectly
related tomanufacturing orprocessing maybeincluded forthepurposes ofthe
application ofanadvalorem percentage criterion consistent withsubparagraph (a);
(d) therulesoforigin thattheyapply toimports andexports arenotmore stringent than
therulesoforigin theyapply todetermine whether ornotagoodisdomestic andshall
notdiscriminate between other Members, irrespective oftheaffiliation ofthe
manufacturers ofthegood concerned2;
1Itisunderstood thatthisprovision iswithout prejudice tothose determinations made forpurposes ofdefining "domestic
industry" or"like products ofdomestic industry" orsimilar terms wherever theyapply.
2With respect torules oforigin applied forthepurposes ofgovernment procurement, thisprovision shall notcreate
obligations additional tothose already assumed byMembers under GATT 1994.Page211
(e) theirrulesoforigin areadministered inaconsistent, uniform, impartial andreasonable
manner;
(f) theirrules oforigin arebased onapositive standard. Rules oforigin thatstatewhat
doesnotconfer origin (negative standard) arepermissible aspartofaclarification of
apositive standard orinindividual cases where apositive determination oforigin is
notnecessary;
(g) their laws, regulations, judicial decisions andadministrative rulings ofgeneral
application relating torules oforigin arepublished asiftheyweresubject to,andin
accordance with, theprovisions ofparagraph 1ofArticle XofGATT 1994;
(h) upon therequest ofanexporter, importer oranyperson withajustifiable cause,
assessments oftheorigin theywould accord toagood areissued assoonaspossible
butnolaterthan150days3afterarequest forsuchanassessment provided thatall
necessary elements have been submitted. Requests forsuchassessments shall be
accepted before trade inthegood concerned begins andmaybeaccepted atanylater
point intime. Such assessments shallremain valid forthree years provided thatthe
factsandconditions, including therulesoforigin, under which theyhavebeenmade
remain comparable. Provided thattheparties concerned areinformed inadvance, such
assessments willnolonger bevalidwhen adecision contrary totheassessment ismade
inareview asreferred toinsubparagraph (j).Suchassessments shallbemade publicly
available subject totheprovisions ofsubparagraph (k);
(i) when introducing changes totheirrules oforigin ornewrules oforigin, theyshall
notapply suchchanges retroactively asdefined in,andwithout prejudice to,theirlaws
orregulations;
(j) anyadministrative action which theytakeinrelation tothedetermination oforigin
isreviewable promptly byjudicial, arbitral oradministrative tribunals orprocedures,
independent oftheauthority issuing thedetermination, which caneffect themodification
orreversal ofthedetermination;
(k) allinformation thatisbynature confidential orthatisprovided onaconfidential basis
forthepurpose oftheapplication ofrules oforigin istreated asstrictly confidential
bytheauthorities concerned, which shallnotdisclose itwithout thespecific permission
oftheperson orgovernment providing suchinformation, except totheextent thatit
mayberequired tobedisclosed inthecontext ofjudicial proceedings.
Article 3
Disciplines aftertheTransition Period
Taking intoaccount theaimofallMembers toachieve, asaresult oftheharmonization work
programme setoutinPartIV,theestablishment ofharmonized rulesoforigin, Members shallensure,
upon theimplementation oftheresults oftheharmonization work programme, that:
(a) theyapply rules oforigin equally forallpurposes assetoutinArticle 1;
3Inrespect ofrequests made during thefirstyearfrom thedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement, Members
shall onlyberequired toissue these assessments assoon aspossible.Page212
(b) under theirrulesoforigin, thecountry tobedetermined astheorigin ofaparticular
good iseither thecountry where thegood hasbeenwholly obtained or,when more
thanonecountry isconcerned intheproduction ofthegood, thecountry where the
lastsubstantial transformation hasbeencarried out;
(c) therules oforigin thattheyapply toimports andexports arenotmore stringent than
therulesoforigin theyapply todetermine whether ornotagoodisdomestic andshall
notdiscriminate between other Members, irrespective oftheaffiliation ofthe
manufacturers ofthegood concerned;
(d) therulesoforigin areadministered inaconsistent, uniform, impartial andreasonable
manner;
(e) their laws, regulations, judicial decisions andadministrative rulings ofgeneral
application relating torules oforigin arepublished asiftheyweresubject to,andin
accordance with, theprovisions ofparagraph 1ofArticle XofGATT 1994;
(f) upon therequest ofanexporter, importer oranyperson withajustifiable cause,
assessments oftheorigin theywould accord toagood areissued assoonaspossible
butnolaterthan150daysafterarequest forsuchanassessment provided thatall
necessary elements have been submitted. Requests forsuchassessments shall be
accepted before trade inthegood concerned begins andmaybeaccepted atanylater
point intime. Such assessments shallremain valid forthree years provided thatthe
factsandconditions, including therulesoforigin, under which theyhavebeenmade
remain comparable. Provided thattheparties concerned areinformed inadvance, such
assessments willnolonger bevalidwhen adecision contrary totheassessment ismade
inareview asreferred toinsubparagraph (h).Suchassessments shallbemade publicly
available subject totheprovisions ofsubparagraph (i);
(g) when introducing changes totheirrules oforigin ornewrules oforigin, theyshall
notapply suchchanges retroactively asdefined in,andwithout prejudice to,theirlaws
orregulations;
(h) anyadministrative action which theytakeinrelation tothedetermination oforigin
isreviewable promptly byjudicial, arbitral oradministrative tribunals orprocedures,
independent oftheauthority issuing thedetermination, which caneffect themodification
orreversal ofthedetermination;
(i) allinformation which isbynature confidential orwhich isprovided onaconfidential
basisforthepurpose oftheapplication ofrulesoforigin istreated asstrictly confidential
bytheauthorities concerned, which shallnotdisclose itwithout thespecific permission
oftheperson orgovernment providing suchinformation, except totheextent thatit
mayberequired tobedisclosed inthecontext ofjudicial proceedings.Page213
PART III
PROCEDURAL ARRANGEMENTS ONNOTIFICATION, REVIEW,
CONSULTATION AND DISPUTE SETTLEMENT
Article 4
Institutions
1. There ishereby established aCommittee onRules ofOrigin (referred tointhisAgreement
as"theCommittee") composed oftherepresentatives fromeachoftheMembers. TheCommittee shall
electitsownChairman andshallmeet asnecessary, butnotlessthanonceayear, forthepurpose
ofaffording Members theopportunity toconsult onmatters relating totheoperation ofParts I,II,III
andIVorthefurtherance oftheobjectives setoutinthese Parts andtocarry outsuch other
responsibilities assigned toitunder thisAgreement orbytheCouncil forTrade inGoods. Where
appropriate, theCommittee shallrequest information andadvice fromtheTechnical Committee referred
toinparagraph 2onmatters related tothisAgreement. TheCommittee mayalsorequest suchother
work from theTechnical Committee asitconsiders appropriate forthefurtherance oftheabove-
mentioned objectives ofthisAgreement. TheWTO Secretariat shall actasthesecretariat tothe
Committee.
2. There shall beestablished aTechnical Committee onRules ofOrigin (referred tointhis
Agreement as"theTechnical Committee") under theauspices oftheCustoms Co-operation Council
(CCC) assetoutinAnnex I.TheTechnical Committee shallcarry outthetechnical work called for
inPartIVandprescribed inAnnex I.Where appropriate, theTechnical Committee shallrequest
information andadvice from theCommittee onmatters related tothisAgreement. TheTechnical
Committee mayalsorequest suchother work fromtheCommittee asitconsiders appropriate forthe
furtherance oftheabove-mentioned objectives oftheAgreement. TheCCC Secretariat shallactas
thesecretariat totheTechnical Committee.
Article 5
Information andProcedures forModification
andIntroduction ofNewRules ofOrigin
1. EachMember shallprovide totheSecretariat, within 90daysafterthedateofentry intoforce
oftheWTO Agreement forit,itsrulesoforigin, judicial decisions, andadministrative rulings ofgeneral
application relating torules oforigin ineffect onthatdate. Ifbyinadvertence aruleoforigin has
notbeenprovided, theMember concerned shallprovide itimmediately afterthisfactbecomes known.
Listsofinformation received andavailable withtheSecretariat shallbecirculated totheMembers by
theSecretariat.
2. During theperiod referred toinArticle 2,Members introducing modifications, other than
deminimis modifications, totheirrules oforigin orintroducing newrules oforigin, which, forthe
purpose ofthisArticle, shallinclude anyruleoforigin referred toinparagraph 1andnotprovided
totheSecretariat, shallpublish anotice tothateffect atleast60daysbefore theentry intoforce of
themodified ornewruleinsuchamanner astoenable interested parties tobecome acquainted with
theintention tomodify aruleoforigin ortointroduce anewruleoforigin, unless exceptional
circumstances ariseorthreaten toariseforaMember. Inthese exceptional cases, theMember shall
publish themodified ornewruleassoonaspossible.Page214
Article 6
Review
1. TheCommittee shallreview annually theimplementation andoperation ofParts IIandIIIof
thisAgreement having regard toitsobjectives. TheCommittee shallannually inform theCouncil for
Trade inGoods ofdevelopments during theperiod covered bysuchreviews.
2. TheCommittee shallreview theprovisions ofParts I,IIandIIIandpropose amendments as
necessary toreflect theresults oftheharmonization work programme.
3. TheCommittee, incooperation withtheTechnical Committee, shallsetupamechanism to
consider andpropose amendments totheresults oftheharmonization work programme, taking into
account theobjectives andprinciples setoutinArticle 9.Thismayinclude instances where therules
needtobemade more operational orneedtobeupdated totakeintoaccount newproduction processes
asaffected byanytechnological change.
Article 7
Consultation
Theprovisions ofArticle XXII ofGATT 1994, aselaborated andapplied bytheDispute
Settlement Understanding, areapplicable tothisAgreement.
Article 8
Dispute Settlement
Theprovisions ofArticle XXIII ofGATT 1994, aselaborated andapplied bytheDispute
Settlement Understanding, areapplicable tothisAgreement.
PART IV
HARMONIZATION OFRULES OFORIGIN
Article 9
Objectives andPrinciples
1. With theobjectives ofharmonizing rules oforigin and,interalia,providing more certainty
intheconduct ofworld trade, theMinisterial Conference shallundertake thework programme set
outbelow inconjunction withtheCCC, onthebasis ofthefollowing principles:
(a) rules oforigin should beapplied equally forallpurposes assetoutinArticle 1;
(b) rules oforigin should provide forthecountry tobedetermined astheorigin ofa
particular goodtobeeither thecountry where thegood hasbeenwholly obtained or,
when more thanonecountry isconcerned intheproduction ofthegood, thecountry
where thelastsubstantial transformation hasbeencarried out;Page215
(c) rules oforigin should beobjective, understandable andpredictable;
(d) notwithstanding themeasure orinstrument towhich theymaybelinked, rulesoforigin
should notbeusedasinstruments topursue trade objectives directly orindirectly.
They should notthemselves create restrictive, distorting ordisruptive effects on
international trade. They should notposeunduly strict requirements orrequire the
fulfilment ofacertain condition notrelating tomanufacturing orprocessing asa
prerequisite forthedetermination ofthecountry oforigin. However, costsnotdirectly
related tomanufacturing orprocessing maybeincluded forpurposes oftheapplication
ofanadvalorem percentage criterion;
(e) rulesoforiginshouldbeadministrableinaconsistent,uniform,impartialandreasonable
manner;
(f) rules oforigin should becoherent;
(g) rules oforigin should bebased onapositive standard. Negative standards maybe
usedtoclarify apositive standard.
Work Programme
2. (a) Thework programme shallbeinitiated assoonaftertheentry intoforce oftheWTO
Agreement aspossible andwillbecompleted within three years ofinitiation.
(b) TheCommittee andtheTechnical Committee provided forinArticle 4shallbethe
appropriate bodies toconduct thiswork.
(c) Toprovide fordetailed input bytheCCC, theCommittee shallrequest theTechnical
Committee toprovide itsinterpretations andopinions resulting fromtheworkdescribed
below onthebasisoftheprinciples listed inparagraph 1.Toensure timely completion
ofthework programme forharmonization, suchwork shallbeconducted onaproduct
sector basis, asrepresented byvarious chapters orsections oftheHarmonized System
(HS)nomenclature.
(i) Wholly Obtained andMinimal Operations orProcesses
TheTechnical Committee shalldevelop harmonized definitions of:
- thegoods thataretobeconsidered asbeing wholly obtained inonecountry.
Thiswork shallbeasdetailed aspossible;
- minimal operations orprocesses thatdonotbythemselves confer origin to
agood.
Theresults ofthiswork shallbesubmitted totheCommittee within three months of
receipt oftherequest from theCommittee.
(ii) Substantial Transformation -Change inTariff Classification
- TheTechnical Committee shallconsider andelaborate upon, onthebasis of
thecriterion ofsubstantial transformation, theuseofchange intariffsubheading
orheading when developing rulesoforigin forparticular products oraproductPage216
sector and,ifappropriate, theminimum change within thenomenclature that
meets thiscriterion.
- TheTechnical Committee shalldivide theabove workonaproduct basistaking
intoaccount thechapters orsections oftheHSnomenclature, soastosubmit
results ofitsworktotheCommittee atleastonaquarterly basis. TheTechnical
Committee shallcomplete theabove work within oneyearandthree months
from receipt oftherequest oftheCommittee.
(iii) Substantial Transformation -Supplementary Criteria
Upon completion ofthework under subparagraph (ii)foreachproduct sector or
individual product category where theexclusive useoftheHSnomenclature doesnot
allow fortheexpression ofsubstantial transformation, theTechnical Committee:
- shallconsider andelaborate upon, onthebasis ofthecriterion ofsubstantial
transformation, theuse,inasupplementary orexclusive manner, ofother
requirements, including advalorem percentages4and/or manufacturing or
processing operations5,when developing rulesoforigin forparticular products
oraproduct sector;
- mayprovide explanations foritsproposals;
- shalldivide theabove work onaproduct basistaking intoaccount thechapters
orsections oftheHSnomenclature, soastosubmit results ofitswork tothe
Committee atleastonaquarterly basis. TheTechnical Committee shall
complete theabove work within twoyears andthree months ofreceipt ofthe
request from theCommittee.
RoleoftheCommittee
3. Onthebasis oftheprinciples listed inparagraph 1:
(a) theCommitteeshallconsidertheinterpretationsandopinionsoftheTechnicalCommittee
periodically inaccordance withthetime-frames provided insubparagraphs (i),(ii)
and(iii)ofparagraph 2(c)withaviewtoendorsing suchinterpretations andopinions.
TheCommittee mayrequest theTechnical Committee torefine orelaborate itswork
and/or todevelop newapproaches. Toassist theTechnical Committee, theCommittee
should provide itsreasons forrequests foradditional work and,asappropriate, suggest
alternative approaches;
(b) upon completion ofallthework identified insubparagraphs (i),(ii)and(iii)of
paragraph 2(c), theCommittee shall consider theresults interms oftheir overall
coherence.
4Iftheadvalorem criterion isprescribed, themethod forcalculating thispercentage shallalsobeindicated intherules
oforigin.
5Ifthecriterion ofmanufacturing orprocessing operation isprescribed, theoperation thatconfers origin ontheproduct
concerned shall beprecisely specified.Page217
Results oftheHarmonization Work Programme andSubsequent Work
4. TheMinisterial Conference shallestablish theresults oftheharmonization work programme
inanannex asanintegral partofthisAgreement.6TheMinisterial Conference shallestablish atime-
frame fortheentry intoforce ofthisannex.
ANNEX I
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ONRULES OFORIGIN
Responsibilities
1. Theongoing responsibilities oftheTechnical Committee shallinclude thefollowing:
(a) attherequest ofanymember oftheTechnical Committee, toexamine specific technical
problems arising intheday-to-day administration oftherules oforigin ofMembers
andtogiveadvisory opinions onappropriate solutions based uponthefactspresented;
(b) tofurnish information andadvice onanymatters concerning theorigin determination
ofgoods asmayberequested byanyMember ortheCommittee;
(c) toprepare andcirculate periodic reports onthetechnical aspects oftheoperation and
status ofthisAgreement; and
(d) toreview annually thetechnical aspects oftheimplementation andoperation ofParts II
andIII.
2. TheTechnicalCommitteeshallexercisesuchotherresponsibilitiesastheCommitteemayrequest
ofit.
3. TheTechnical Committee shallattempt toconclude itswork onspecific matters, especially
those referred toitbyMembers ortheCommittee, inareasonably short period oftime.
Representation
4. EachMember shallhavetherighttoberepresented ontheTechnical Committee. EachMember
maynominate onedelegate andoneormore alternates tobeitsrepresentatives ontheTechnical
Committee. SuchaMember sorepresented ontheTechnical Committee ishereinafter referred toas
a"member" oftheTechnical Committee. Representatives ofmembers oftheTechnical Committee
maybeassisted byadvisers atmeetings oftheTechnical Committee. TheWTO Secretariat mayalso
attend suchmeetings withobserver status.
5. Members oftheCCC which arenotMembers oftheWTO mayberepresented atmeetings
oftheTechnical Committee byonedelegate andoneormore alternates. Such representatives shall
attend meetings oftheTechnical Committee asobservers.
6Atthesame time, consideration shallbegiven toarrangements concerning thesettlement ofdisputes relating tocustoms
classification.Page218
6. Subject totheapproval oftheChairman oftheTechnical Committee, theSecretary-General
oftheCCC (referred tointhisAnnex as"theSecretary-General") mayinvite representatives of
governments which areneither Members oftheWTO normembers oftheCCC andrepresentatives
ofinternational governmental andtrade organizations toattend meetings oftheTechnical Committee
asobservers.
7. Nominations ofdelegates, alternates andadvisers tomeetings oftheTechnical Committee shall
bemade totheSecretary-General.
Meetings
8. TheTechnical Committee shallmeetasnecessary, butnotlessthanonceayear.
Procedures
9. TheTechnical Committee shallelectitsownChairman andshallestablish itsownprocedures.
ANNEX II
COMMON DECLARATION WITH REGARD TOPREFERENTIAL RULES OFORIGIN
1. RecognizingthatsomeMembersapplypreferentialrulesoforigin,distinctfromnon-preferential
rules oforigin, theMembers hereby agree asfollows.
2. Forthepurposes ofthisCommon Declaration, preferential rules oforigin shallbedefined
asthoselaws,regulationsandadministrativedeterminationsofgeneralapplicationappliedbyanyMember
todetermine whether goods qualify forpreferential treatment under contractual orautonomous trade
regimes leading tothegranting oftariff preferences going beyond theapplication ofparagraph 1of
Article IofGATT 1994.
3. TheMembers agree toensure that:
(a) when theyissueadministrative determinations ofgeneral application, therequirements
tobefulfilled areclearly defined. Inparticular:
(i) incases where thecriterion ofchange oftariff classification isapplied, such
apreferential ruleoforigin, andanyexceptions totherule,mustclearly specify
thesubheadings orheadings within thetariffnomenclature thatareaddressed
bytherule;
(ii) incases where theadvalorem percentage criterion isapplied, themethod for
calculating thispercentage shallalsobeindicated inthepreferential rules of
origin;
(iii) incases where thecriterion ofmanufacturing orprocessing operation is
prescribed, theoperation thatconfers preferential origin shall beprecisely
specified;
(b) theirpreferential rules oforigin arebased onapositive standard. Preferential rules
oforigin thatstatewhat doesnotconfer preferential origin (negative standard) arePage219
permissible aspartofaclarification ofapositive standard orinindividual cases where
apositive determination ofpreferential origin isnotnecessary;
(c) their laws, regulations, judicial decisions andadministrative rulings ofgeneral
application relating topreferential rulesoforigin arepublished asiftheyweresubject
to,andinaccordance with, theprovisions ofparagraph 1ofArticle XofGATT 1994;
(d) uponrequest ofanexporter, importer oranyperson withajustifiable cause, assessments
ofthepreferential origin theywould accord toagood areissued assoonaspossible
butnolaterthan150days7afterarequest forsuchanassessment provided thatall
necessary elements have been submitted. Requests forsuchassessments shall be
accepted before trade inthegood concerned begins andmaybeaccepted atanylater
point intime. Such assessments shallremain valid forthree years provided thatthe
factsandconditions, including thepreferential rulesoforigin, under which theyhave
beenmade remain comparable. Provided thattheparties concerned areinformed in
advance, suchassessments willnolonger bevalid when adecision contrary tothe
assessment ismade inareview asreferred toinsubparagraph (f).Such assessments
shallbemade publicly available subject totheprovisions ofsubparagraph (g);
(e) when introducing changes totheirpreferential rulesoforigin ornewpreferential rules
oforigin, theyshallnotapply suchchanges retroactively asdefined in,andwithout
prejudice to,theirlawsorregulations;
(f) anyadministrative action which theytakeinrelation tothedetermination ofpreferential
origin isreviewable promptly byjudicial, arbitral oradministrative tribunals or
procedures, independent oftheauthority issuing thedetermination, which caneffect
themodification orreversal ofthedetermination;
(g) allinformation thatisbynature confidential orthatisprovided onaconfidential basis
forthepurpose oftheapplication ofpreferential rules oforigin istreated asstrictly
confidential bytheauthorities concerned, which shallnotdisclose itwithout thespecific
permissionofthepersonorgovernmentprovidingsuchinformation,excepttotheextent
thatitmayberequired tobedisclosed inthecontext ofjudicial proceedings.
4. Membersagree toprovidetotheSecretariatpromptlytheirpreferentialrulesoforigin,including
alisting ofthepreferential arrangements towhich theyapply, judicial decisions, andadministrative
rulings ofgeneral application relating totheirpreferential rulesoforigin ineffect onthedateofentry
intoforceoftheWTO Agreement fortheMember concerned. Furthermore, Members agree toprovide
anymodifications totheirpreferential rules oforigin ornewpreferential rules oforigin assoonas
possible totheSecretariat. Lists ofinformation received andavailable withtheSecretariat shallbe
circulated totheMembers bytheSecretariat.
7Inrespect ofrequests made during thefirstyearfrom entry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement, Members shall only
berequired toissue these assessments assoon aspossible.