1. WCO Knowledge Academy Origin Brussels, 3-4 July 2014 WCO activities on rules of origin Mette Werdelin Azzam Technical Officer Origin Sub-Directorate World Customs Organization Mette.azzam@wcoomd.org

2. ROLE OF WCO IN ORIGIN MATTERS 2 Support work of the WTO Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) Organize the Technical Committee on Rules of Origin (TCRO) Support members on the correct understanding, management and application of the rules of origin Provide technical assistance – seminars to members and private sector Copyright © 2014 World Customs Organization

3. WTO AGREEMENT ON RULES OF ORIGIN 3 Annex I: Technical Committee Permanent responsibilities include: ● technical problems of administration of HROO; and provide advisory opinions ● provide information / advice on origin determination ● circulate periodic reports (annually) ● prepare the annual review ● respond to CRO’s or Members’ requests Copyright © 2014 World Customs Organization

4. TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON RULES OF ORIGIN (TCRO) 4 Last meeting: 22 January 2014 + Origin Conference on 20-21 January 2014 Key issue discussed: transposition of the Consolidated text of draft Harmonized non-preferential Rules of Origin into newer versions of HS Next meeting: 3-4 February 2015 Copyright © 2014 World Customs Organization

5. WCO INITIATIVES ON PREFERENTIAL RULES OF ORIGIN 5 Action Plan to improve the understanding and application of preferential rules of origin (2007) Revenue Package Action Plan (2010) Copyright © 2014 World Customs Organization

6. 6 THE SPAGHETTI BOWL OF COMPLEX AND OVERLAPPING RULES OF ORIGIN LEGISLATIONS How to structure the complex environment of the rules of origin tangle in the comparative study ? Copyright © 2014 World Customs Organization

7. WCO ACTION PLAN TO IMPROVE THE UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATION OF PREFERENTIAL RULES OF ORIGIN 7 WCO Action Plan to Improve the Understanding and Application of Preferential Rules of Origin approved by WCO Council in June 2007. 5 key areas with 21 specific initiatives proposed. 17 practical measures outlined aiming at improving the management and application of preferential rules of origin. Copyright © 2014 World Customs Organization

8. WCO ACTION PLAN TO IMPROVE THE UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATION OF PREFERENTIAL RULES OF ORIGIN 8 5 key issues: Database Comparative study Training Adaptation of WCO structures New positioning of international role of WCO Copyright © 2014 World Customs Organization

9. Establish and maintain a Database of Preferential Rules of Origin 9 Legal text of preferential rules of origin under FTAs Available to members of WCO and public Updated regularly Search and compare functions Product Specific Rules of origin are included Copyright © 2014 World Customs Organization

10. COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RULES OF ORIGIN UNDER EXISTING PREFERENTIAL AGREEMENTS 10 Increase the level of support and understanding of customs and business Recurrent themes which apply to all preferential arrangements Highlight of major differences and basic standards and norms Copyright © 2014 World Customs Organization

11. COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RULES OF ORIGIN UNDER EXISTING PREFERENTIAL AGREEMENTS 11 Origin Models : NAFTA Pan-Euro-Med ASEAN Modules: World trends in preferential origin certification and verification Comparative study on (non preferential) certification of origin Origin irregularity typology study Copyright © 2014 World Customs Organization

12. REVENUE PACKAGE - BACKGROUND 12 A response to Members’ concerns regarding falling revenue returns in context of global financial crisis and declining duty rates Copyright © 2014 World Customs Organization

13. REVENUE PACKAGE - BACKGROUND 13 Guidelines on preferential origin verification Guidelines on certification of origin Guide to counter origin irregularities Copyright © 2014 World Customs Organization

14. WHAT’S NEXT 14 Development of a common diagnostic (self-assessment) tool for HS, Origin and Valuation Development of a common infrastructure on advance rulings for HS, Origin and Valuation Collect good practices on origin infrastructure, advance rulings, irregularities, certification and verification Develop and publish more modules to the comparative study Prepare draft guidelines and handbooks as WCO Global Standard to support customs in their management and application of the rules Increase Training and Technical Assistance Develop existing e-learning origin modules and draft new modules Copyright © 2014 World Customs Organization

15. More Information 15 http://www.wcoomd.org origin@wcoomd.org Copyright © 2014 World Customs Organization