  
  
G/L/1499  
 
26 October  2023 
(23-7237) Page: 1/2 
  
 
  
REPORT (202 3) OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES OF ORIGIN   
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS  
1. This document reports on the work conducted by the Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) in 
2022. Article  6.1 of the Agreement on Rules of Origin  provides  that: 
"The Committee shall review annually the implementation and operation of Parts II and III of 
this Agreement having regard to its objectives " and " inform the Council for Trade in Goods of 
developments during the period covered by such reviews ." 
2. The CRO held two formal meetings in 2022: on 6 June and on 12 October. The minutes of 
these meetings are contained in documents G/RO/M/ 80 and G/RO/M/ 811 respectively. 
Mrs Laura  GAUER (Switzerland) was elected Chairperson of the CRO in May 20 22 and chaired the 
first meeting  of 2023 . Mr. Elia MTWEVE (Tanzania) was elected in June 2023 for the 2023 -2024 
period and chaired  the second meeting. Some consultation and informal meetings were also held 
during the year . 
3. The work of the Committee continued to be structured around two broad themes: 
(1) non-preferential rules of origin; and (2)  preferential rules of origin for LDCs.  
4. On non-preferential rules of origin , the Committee did not hold specific discussions related to 
the Harmonization Work Programme  (HWP) (Article 9.2(a) of the Agreement on Rules of Origin ). 
Members have expressed diverging views  regarding the implications of harmonizing non -preferential 
rules of origin , so this area of work has not seen much development since 2007.  
5. Since then, Members have been focusing on improving their understanding and knowledge 
about national practices related to non -preferential rules of origin. In this regard, a proposal to 
"enhance  transparency on non -preferential rules of origin" ( G/RO/W/182/Rev.4 ) has been on the 
Committee's agenda for some time. In October 2022, Members discussed again this proposal  and, 
agreed to engage in Chair -led consultations with a view to preparing a Chair's text.  Following 
consultations, a Chairperson's text was circulated in document JOB/RO/8 . It was considered in an 
informal open -ended meeting on 2 December 2022. Despite  wide support for the text,  a few 
delegations raised concerns with some of its elements.  As a result, it was agreed that the Chair 
would continue his consultations on further textual amendments with a view to finalizing the 
template for adoption . 
6. In addition, an informa tion session  was held on "Trade facilitating measures related to rules 
of origin" on 11 October.  The programme, presentations made and recording of the session are 
available in the "events box" of the Rules of Origin Portal of the WTO website.  
7. At the request of the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG) ( JOB/CTG/29  and JOB/CTG/33 ), 
Members also adopted a report on its recent discussions related to measures taken to improve the 
functioning of the CRO  (G/L/1493  and G/RO/98 ). In fact, Members agreed to introduce and 
implement seven measures to facilitate the work of delegates and impr ove the work of the 
Committee. The report complements the information contained in a previous report prepared in 
December 2022 ( G/RO/W/217 ; G/L/1465 ; G/L/1465/Corr.1 ; JOB/CTG/19/Rev.2  and 
G/C/W/824/Rev.1 ). 
 
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  8. Members also considered and adopted a report to the CTG summarizing past discussions on 
origin -related measures implemented during the COVID -19 pandemic ( G/L/1466 ; G/RO/W/218 ). 
A compilation of such measures was also prepared by the Secretariat for future reference 
(G/RO/W/219 ). 
9. The Committee completed the mandated annual review of the implementation and operation 
of the Agreement  (G/RO/W/225/Rev.1  and G/RO/ 99). 
10. With respect to preferential rules of origin , the Committee continued to oversee  the 
implementation of the Bali and the Nairobi Ministerial Decisions on preferential rules of origin for 
least developed countries (LDCs) ( WT/L/917  and WT/L/917/Add.1 ) as well as the April 2022  
"Decision on Preferential Rules of Origin and the Implementation of the Nairobi Ministerial Decision " 
(G/RO/95 ). A separate report to the General Council ahead of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference  
was considered for adoption . 
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