bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

rules of origin

Preferential treatment provided for in a free trade agreement is usually granted only to products originating from members of that FTA, so rules of origin are important. These are the criteria which determine the national origin of a product. The country of origin of a product is usually seen as the country where the last substantial transformation took place.

Enforcing and defining rules of origin for goods or services poses major problems. This issue has been very controversial in a number of agreements and trade unions and other critics have campaigned to highlight the ways in which rules of origin can be used and abused by governments and corporations alike. In particular there are concerns about the ease with which goods processed partly or fully in a third country can receive duty-free access under a bilateral agreement by being re-exported with just enough processing to satisfy rules of origin requirements. This is further complicated by the fact that different bilateral free trade agreements use different criteria to set rules of origin.

EU-Morocco Geographical Indications deal fails in geography
10-Dec-2015 WSRW
A proposed agreement on protective measures for products linked to specific geographical locations, fails manifestly in understanding the geographic stretch of Morocco.
Canada and Mexico win trade ruling over US livestock law
8-Dec-2015 BBC
Canada and Mexico have won a trade victory over US law requiring country of origin labelling on beef and pork.
Japan, U.S. agree to protect alcoholic drinks linked to special areas by banning knock-offs
9-Nov-2015 The Asahi Shimbun
Japan and the United States have struck a deal to ban alcoholic beverages that are not produced in the geographical area included in its brand name under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade pact.
In brief – TTIP: where we stand
26-Oct-2015 Bordelex
TTIP negotiation round 11 was held in Miami, Florida: short overview of where we stand in the negotiations, issue area by issue area.
EU-ECOWAS EPA: annex C on customs duties on products originating in the European Union (Oct 2015)
24-Oct-2015 European Commission
As released by the European Commission
EU-ECOWAS EPA: annex A on protocol no. 1 on the definition of the concept of “originating products” and on methods of administrative cooperation; annex B on customs duties on products originating in West Africa (Oct 2015)
24-Oct-2015 European Commission
As released by the European Commission
Trans Pacific Partnership IP chapter – trademarks, thoughts on geographical indications
16-Oct-2015 IP Watchdog
This article offers accompanying commentary together on the TPP’s trademark provisions together with thoughts on portions of the TPP text regarding Geographical Indications (GIs)
East African states agree on free trade area issues
13-Oct-2015 All Africa
The East African Community partner states have agreed on the outstanding trade issues under the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA).
TPP rule of origin is 45% for vehicles, with caveats; 35-45% for auto parts
8-Oct-2015 Global Trade Online
The final Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) contains rules of origin for the automotive sector that require 45 percent regional value content for finished vehicles under a complicated accounting method, along with a regional value content threshold between 35 and 45 percent for auto parts.
Trade agreements: EU grows bilateral and regional FTAs
3-Sep-2015 Just Style
Free trade agreements (FTAs) between the European Union (EU) and its trading partners worldwide have mushroomed in recent years and more are in the pipeline.
TPP, TTIP, organic equivalencies — trade...
1-Sep-2015 Food Dive
TPP, TTIP, organic equivalencies — trade agreements have been all over the headlines for the past few months. But what is the impact for food and beverage companies in the U.S.?
How regional trade agreements can spark a fight over Feta cheese
26-Aug-2015 Fortune
While the European Union and Canada agree that Feta cheese must come from Greece, the deal underscores the problems with regional trade deals not giving other countries a say.
Mali : commerce et industrie: les mesures de défenses commerciales au centre des débats
18-Aug-2015 Mali Actu
Un atelier de formation à Bamako pour combattre des politiques commerciales agressives des entreprises à la recherche de marchés d’exportation
FTA completion depends on unification of origin rules, customs: Abdel Nour
9-Jun-2015
The completion of the Free Trade Area (FTA) procedures among the three African blocs, SADC, COMESA and the East African Community (EAC), depends on the unification of the rules of origin and tariff, according to Egypt’s Minister of Industry and Trade Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour.
Vietnamese exporters need to plan for FTA lawsuit liability
20-May-2015
New free trade agreements (FTA) will help Vietnamese companies improve access to markets and diminish costs, but they will also require strategies and policies to minimise the probability of trade lawsuits, speakers said at a seminar on global trade late last week in HCM City.
Rules of origin TPP dispute blocking Japan-US auto deal
3-Apr-2015 Japan Times
Rules of origin for automobile parts have emerged as a key stumbling block in Japan-US auto trade talks held as part of efforts to conclude the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, according to informed sources.
TPP, TTIP could alter US textile & apparel trade
5-Jan-2014 Fibre2fashion
From the view of the textiles and apparel industries, all eyes will be on whether a yarn-forward provision has been included or not in the final documents.
Will Asia’s largest FTA make a difference?
1-Jul-2013 Jakarta Post
Unless there is enough political will to close potential loopholes disguised as “flexibility” and pursue reforms deeper than those ever before attempted, RCEP may be seen as serving the geopolitical interests of a few players, to little economic effect.
Export flexibility with ROO
20-Feb-2013
The rules of origin (ROO) in the context of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) provides Fijian exporters the maximum flexibility to export Fijian Made and Fijian Grown products into the European Union.
EU-Canada FTA (CETA): landing zones (draft, Nov 2012)
4-Dec-2012 S2B Network