Rules of Origin (RoO) have emerged as one of the many important issues of inter-governmental negotiations under various trading arrangements, in general and between India and other countries/regions, in particular. Given the complexity of issues on the subject, RIS is conducting a study on "Rules of Origin Issues in India’s Economic Partnership Agreements with Other Countries: An Approach Paper on Change in Tariff Heading Criterion", sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. The study specifically focuses on the analytics of the change in tariff classification criterion and on identification of items at HS 6-digit level that do not qualify for stipulations of tariff shifts at HS 4-digit level of trade classification.

The study also forms a part of the agenda of the Expert Group on Preferential Rules of Origin, set up by the Government of India, 2004. RIS is represented on this Group. A preliminary draft of the study was presented in the Third Meeting of the Expert Group on 16 July 2004 at New Delhi.

Research Team: Dr. Ram Upendra Das