(Rules of) Origin

Abstract

Rules of Origin are the set of rules that are used to identify the Country of Origin of an exported item and to determine the eligibility for preferential treatment for the item. The Rules of Origin that determine the Country of Origin for a product are usually referred to as the nonpreferential, or economic, Rules of Origin. The Rules of Origin that determine the eligibility for preferential treatment are commonly referred to as the preferential Rules of Origin. An important distinction between preferential and nonpreferential origin is that preferential origin treatment is requested (by the importer) and nonpreferential origin determination is required (for the exporter). The description for both the nonpreferential and preferential Rules of Origin are given by the WTO.