GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
Rules of Origin
Rules of origin are the legally binding criteria that determine when a product is considered to originate in a given country—qualifying it for preferential tariff rates under a free trade agreement or making it subject to trade defence measures such as anti-dumping duties.
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Source: https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/origin.aspx
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Rules of origin are the legally binding criteria that determine when a product is considered to originate in a given country—qualifying it for preferential tariff rates under a free trade agreement or making it subject to trade defence measures such as anti-dumping duties. The applicable test varies by agreement: wholly obtained status, a sufficient working or processing operation (commonly a tariff classification change at HS level, such as CTH or CTSH), or a minimum regional value content threshold. For exporters, importers, and freight forwarders, this translates into a concrete documentation obligation: supplier declarations, certificates of origin, and full supply chain records must be in order, as customs authorities verify these both at the border and through post-clearance audits. A fundamental distinction applies between preferential rules of origin—governing access to reduced duties under trade agreements—and non-preferential rules of origin, which underpin trade statistics, origin marking requirements, and trade defence measures.
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