Journal

The WCO Secretariat organized the second edition of its Global Origin Conference, held from 10 to 12 March 2021, with the objective of stimulating the exchange of knowledge on the management … and implementation of rules of origin, both from a Customs and a trade operator perspective. Funded by the Korea Customs Service, the event was held online. Below are some of the key points made by the speakers.

The following article is not intended to be a scholarly or even comprehensive review of past or current activities under the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Rules of Origin, or a detailed … analysis of the differences between preferential versus non-preferential rules of origin (which I am assuming most readers of this magazine already understand). Rather, this article offers more of a personal and subjective perspective on the problems associated with non-preferential rules, and humbly proposes possible approaches and options to minimize these problems, or at least stimulate discussions about potential remedies. These options are largely based on the perceived structure and architecture of the issues.

Binding Origin Information (BOI) refers to a written decision issued by a Customs administration that certifies the origin of goods. Also known as an “advance ruling regarding the origin of goods”, … such a decision is usually binding on the applicant and on the Customs authorities for a given amount of time.

The International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Kyoto Convention) entered into force in 1974. To keep pace with the evolution of governments and international … trade, the Kyoto Convention was revised in the 1990s and entered into force as the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) on 3 February 2006. The RKC became the blueprint for modern and efficient Customs procedures for years to come.