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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.


NAFTA: In new phase of talks, search starts for solutions to break impasse
Negotiators gathered at an informal session in Washington are considering ways to work around a main impasse of the talks so far, a US demand on auto parts deemed unfeasible by Canada, Mexico and the industry.
NAFTA nations lock horns on US auto demands as fifth round ends
Negotiators from the United States, Mexico and Canada square off for the last time in a fifth round of talks to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement, with stalemate brewing on a contentious proposal to ramp up regional content for autos.
US to seek strict rules of origin in NAFTA talks, sources say
The US wants 85 percent of content to come from the United States, Mexico and Canada. The request may include a demand for a 50 percent American content requirement.
NAFTA negotiators hone in on origin rules, dispute settlement
U.S., Canadian and Mexican negotiators began digging into some of the thorniest issues in modernizing NAFTA, including rules of origin for goods produced in the region, services trade and a controversial dispute settlement system.
Mexico set to review rules of origin to help NAFTA renegotiation
Mexico’s foreign minister says the country is “inevitably” set to review rules of origin when renegotiating the North American free-trade agreement.
North American carmakers want rules of origin in NAFTA left untouched - Mexico lobby
The auto industries of the United States, Canada and Mexico agree there should be no changes to rules of origin in the North American Free Trade Agreement.
EU-Indonesia FTA - draft rules of origin chapter (December 2016)
As published by the European Commission
Trade pact: India, Sri Lanka to iron out differences in services, rules of origin
With China too eyeing a similar agreement with Colombo, New Delhi aims to sign expanded FTA this year.
Navarro outlines criteria for ’model’ trade agreements
The Trump administration will be pushing for agreements that tighten rules-of-origin requirements, crack down on steel and aluminum dumping and reduce the trade deficit by requiring nations to buy more U.S. products
Canada given advance notice of Trump’s NAFTA demands
The Americans want to discuss country of origin rules and the independent dispute-settlement mechanism.
EU-Mexico FTA - EU text proposals (November 2016)
As published by the European Commission
Three amigos further liberalize NAFTA rules of origin
Agreement covers range of products, from pharmaceuticals to cosmetics.
Regional dialogue set to ensure the inclusiveness of the private sector in Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement negotiations
The inaugural Tripartite Regional Dialogue will ensure inclusive participation of the private sector in the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) negotiations.
Final TPP auto RoO package differs from expected outcome in two ways
Critics of the flexibility mechanism argue that it further opens the door for more content from non-TPP countries to be included in originating vehicles and auto parts.
Omnibus bill shows trade deals can, in fact, rewrite U.S. laws
A short provision will remove labels telling consumers where their beef and pork comes from, but it will reveal something else.
EU-Morocco Geographical Indications deal fails in geography
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
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
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
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)
As released by the European Commission