The World Customs Organization (WCO) has advised that at a meeting of the Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) on 05 to 06 November 2025, members had discussed transparency initiatives, notification procedures and preferential and non-preferential rules of origin (RoO). The CRO also heard updates from preference-granting members of recent developments in their programmes for least-developed countries (LDCs). The formal meeting was chaired by Hong Kong, China, for the first time.
LDC group presentations and expectations
The LDC Group presented an updated expectations paper consolidating requests to preference-granting members regarding preferential RoO. Members, including Cambodia, Senegal, Zambia, The Gambia, and Nepal, made presentations on behalf of the Group, identifying what they see as best practices in preferential rules of origin in areas such as ad valorem percentages, changes in tariff classification, methods of calculation, direct consignment, proof of origin, and cumulation provisions.
The LDC group, with support from UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), presented preliminary findings from a field study funded by the government of the United Kingdom on the use of cumulation by firms in Africa, covering Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, and South Africa. The research combined legal and policy reviews, input-output analysis, questionnaires, and firm-level interviews to identify cumulative cases. The study identified successful cases of cumulation use but also revealed significant challenges, including high logistical costs, limited awareness of preferences and cumulation provisions, institutional weaknesses, and a lack of transparency in laws and regulations at the national level.
The LDC group introduced a proposal for a text to be included in an outcome document for the World Trade Organization (WTO) 14th Ministerial Conference, which will take place in March 2026. The proposed text would reaffirm information from past ministerial decisions, acknowledge the work done in the CRO, and instruct the CRO to intensify its efforts in identifying and, where possible, agreeing on the best trade-facilitating practices for preferential rules of origin and related administrative requirements.
Several preference-granting members expressed concerns about the proposed text, noting that the CRO was already engaged in discussions aimed at improving the preferential RoO that preference-granting members used for LDCs. The chair proposed continued engagement through bilateral meetings.
Transparency initiatives and notifications
Six members submitted updated notifications of their RoO: Albania, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and Viet Nam. The WTO Secretariat reported that, as of early October 2025, 58 members had notified that they applied non-preferential RoO, while 61 members do not apply such rules. Some of these notifications provide updated and standardised information based on a “template” proposed by the chairperson of the CRO in 2024.
Updates on LDC preference programmes
Preference-granting members reported on recent developments in their programmes for LDCs. The United Kingdom outlined comprehensive reforms to its Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), including the creation of a new regional cumulation group in Africa comprising 50 countries and liberalised rules for apparel. Australia, Canada, Japan and China also provided updates on their respective LDC preference programmes and rules of origin approaches. These changes will take effect next year.
Information session on non-preferential rules of origin
Members participated in an information session on 06 November 2025 focused on non-preferential RoO in international trade. The session featured presentations from the WTO Secretariat on the role and usage of these rules, from UNCTAD on compliance challenges in the current world trade environment, and from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) on business perspectives regarding non-preferential origin requirements.
The chair highlighted the value of engaging with the private sector in these information sessions, noting that businesses and trade operators handle RoO and certificates of origin on a daily basis and can inform the CRO about real-life problems and gaps. The chair proposed organising additional information sessions in the future and invited delegations to suggest topics for discussion.
Tariff uncertainties and rules of origin
China raised an agenda item on enhancing transparency in RoO amid current tariff uncertainties. Emphasising that in today’s interconnected global economy, frequent tariff adjustments create substantial unpredictability for enterprises, China proposed several measures to enhance transparency.
Next meetings
The next formal committee meetings are scheduled for 16 to 17 April 2026 and 07 to 08 October 2026.
Background
RoO are the criteria needed to determine the national source of a product. RoO are essential in the application of import duties as well as trade policy instruments such as anti-dumping and countervailing duties, origin marking, and safeguard measures.
There is a wide variation in the practices of governments regarding the RoO. The WTO’s Agreement on RoO aims at long-term harmonisation of RoO, excluding those relating to the granting of tariff preferences, and to ensure that such rules do not themselves create unnecessary obstacles to trade. It also provides for transitional disciplines, and an annexe to the agreement sets out a “common declaration” with respect to the operation of RoO on goods that qualify for preferential treatment.
More information on the WTO’s work regarding RoO is accessible at: