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.

La Jornada | 15-Dec-2022
La Secretaría de Economía (SE) ajustó la fecha en que se dará a conocer el fallo sobre el panel de controversia que interpuso México en materia de reglas de origen de la industria automotriz bajo el Tratado México, Estados Unidos y Canadá (T-MEC).
Hankyoreh | 15-Jan-2020
KTurbo claims US government violated terms of KORUS FTA, after US court judged that the company violated place of origin rules.
The Hindu Business Line | 22-Oct-2019
Indian negotiators are in Bangkok trying to insert crucial provisions in the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) pact.
iPolitics | 30-Jan-2018
While “significant” challenges remain, all three ministers said some progress has been made this round.
Le Monde | 30-Jan-2018
Les dossiers techniques avancent bien, mais c’est surtout sur les sujets qui fâchent que l’abcès a été crevé à Montréal.
Toronto Star | 25-Jan-2018
Canada has proposed that Canada and Mexico would agree to a dispute settlement process between their two countries alone — to be outlined in an annex to the NAFTA.
24 Horas | 17-Oct-2017
Termina 5o. día de la 4a. ronda de conversaciones con más exigencias; Grupos opositores presionan a los negociadores con manifestaciones y panfletos
The Globe and Mail | 19-Jan-2017
The Americans want to discuss country of origin rules and the independent dispute-settlement mechanism.
La Presse | 19-Jan-2017
La future administration américaine veut discuter des règles d’origine et revoir le mécanisme de règlement des litiges.
All Africa | 13-Oct-2015
The East African Community partner states have agreed on the outstanding trade issues under the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA).