Origin related MEASURES taken during the COVID-19 pandemic

Compilation of measures affecting certificates of origin and proofs of origin

Note by the Secretariat^[1]

Revision

1.     Several WTO members adopted trade easing or facilitating measures as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of some of these measures was to simplify the completion of administrative and documentary requirements – including related to rules of origin. This document presents a compilation of origin-related measures for Members' information and future reference.

2.     In the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the closure of government agencies and the application of restrictions on the movement of persons, resulted in difficulties to complete certain administrative procedures. Examples include requests or the presentation of printed documents, the use of official stamps and signatures, the requirement for the consularization of certificates, etc. Such difficulties impacted trade documents and administrative procedures in general, not only those related to origin. As a result, some governments sought to temporarily or permanently simplify these documentary requirements, including those related to origin, and alleviate such difficulties.

3.     The table in the Annex contains a non-exhaustive list of measures taken by Members in relation to rules of origin as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The list may be revised and complemented as needed. The measures listed in it were sourced from:

-_          The "Compendium of experiences related to the COVID-19 crisis" prepared for the Committee on Trade Facilitation (G/TFA/W/40/Rev.4);

-_          The compilation of "Lessons learned from the experience–sharing sessions on trade in COVID‑19 related goods" by the Committee on Market Access (G/MA/409);

-_          The informal compilation prepared by the WTO Secretariat on measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic and affecting trade in goods (available through the WTO website):
WTO | COVID-19: Measures affecting trade in goods; and

-_          Inputs sent from Members to the Secretariat as agreed by the Committee on Rules of Origin (G/RO/M/80 and G/RO/M/81).

In addition to a brief description and the source, it is also indicated for each measure:

-_          if the measure concerns specifically proofs of origin (certificates) or trade documents in general, and

-_          if the measure was adopted on a temporary or on a permanent basis (a question mark was added in case of doubt).