   
  
G/L/1440  
 
3 November  2022 
(22-8231) Page: 1/2 
    
 
REPORT (202 2) 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 7 April and on 13 October. The minutes of 
these meetings are contained in documents G/RO/M/78 and G/RO/M/791 respectively. 
Mrs Laura  GAUER (Switzerland) was elected Chairperson of the CRO in May 20 22 and chaired both 
meetings. The Committee also considered the appointment of a vice -chair at the October 2022 
meeting , but the election could not be completed because of concerns expressed by one delegation.  
3. The work of the Committee continued to be structured arou nd 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), launched in 1995 in accordance with Article 9.2(a) of 
the Agreement on Rules of Origin. Members have expressed diverse views  regarding the implications 
that harmonized rules of origin could have for other trade policy instruments ("core  policy issues"). 
Therefore, the negotiations have 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. The Chairperson 
confirmed that she would hold consultations and keep the Committee informed.  
6. In addition, an information session  was held on the work programme for the harmonization of 
non-preferen tial rules of origin. The session, organized in October 2022, provided an overview of 
the objectives and history of these negotiations mandated in the Agreement on Rules of Origin  
(Article 9) . In addition to a presentation by the Secretariat, Ms. Thorstensen , former Chairperson of 
the Committee on Rules of Origin (2004 -2009), also shared her impressions and memories about 
these negotiations.  
7. Finally, the Committee completed the mandated annual review of the implementation and 
operation of the Agreement (G/RO/ 96). 
8. 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).  
9. In this context, Members adopted , in April 2022, a "Decision on Preferential Rules of Origin 
and the Implementation of the Nairobi Ministerial Decision " (G/RO/95) . In it, Members underscored 
the importance of identifying and addressing as appropriate specific challenges that LDCs face, as 
Members may agr ee, in complying with preferential rules of origin and origin requirements to 
effectively use trade preferences. To that end, Members agreed to continue working in the CRO to 
ensure that the rules or origin used by Members in their non -reciprocal preferenc es for LDCs are 
 
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  simple and transparent. Such efforts could include identifying and agreeing to best practices and 
further analysing the utilization of trade preferences. This Decision was also acknowledged in 
paragraph 8 of the Outcome Document of the 12th Ministerial Conference.  
10. Members also considered a number of technical notes  in 2022 . First, a note by the WTO 
Secretariat on obligations related to the certification of origin and the utilization of trade preferences 
(G/RO/W/212). Second, two notes  prepar ed by the LDC Group on (i) documentary requirements 
(G/RO/W/211); and (ii) a preliminary assessment of the new preferential rules of origin of the United 
Kingdom (G/RO/W/216).  
11. Finally, on 7 April, members participated in a public event organized by the WTO  Secretariat 
at the margins of the formal CRO meeting on "What drives the utilization of trade preferences " (via 
Zoom, recording available ). This second event followed up on a first event held in 2021  on this topic. 
Speakers explored the different factors which influence the ability and willingness of businesses to 
utilize trade preferences an d shared their experience monitoring the utilization rates of their trade 
preferences. Speakers included government officials from Canada ; Chile; Türkiye ; the United States;  
and the EFTA Secretariat (Iceland ; Liechtenstein ; Norway ; and Switzerland).  
12. Members adopted a more detailed report to the General Council on its work related to 
preferential rules of origin for LDCs, as required by the Bali and Nairobi Ministerial Decisions 
(G/RO /97). 
 
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