WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin (Uruguay Agreement) - CBEC's Customs Manual 2023 - Customs

4. WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin (Uruguay Agreement) 4.1 The Agreement on Rules of Origin aims at harmonization of non-preferential rules of origin, and to ensure that such rules do not themselves create unnecessary obstacles to trade. The Agreement sets out a work programme for the harmonization of rules of origin to be undertaken after the entry into force of the World Trade Organization (WTO), in conjunction with the World Customs Organization (WCO). 4.2 Through this Agreement, members commit to negotiate common rules of origin for all non-preferential trade purposes. The Agreement only sets out broad principles for launching the negotiations for the harmonization of non-preferential rules of origin. However, these negotiations are still ongoing, and therefore, there are no common rules of origin at the WTO.