The Global Economics team at the Global Governance Programme (GGP) has initiated a new video series on ‘Rules of Origin’ and international trade. Hosted by the Schuman Centre of the European University Institute (EUI), it comprises of interviews led by Mr. Stefano Inama, Chief, Technical Assistance and Enhanced Integrated Framework Section at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). This video series aims to bring to all stakeholders, in particular the private sector, governments, international organisations, academia and the general public, the issues at stake, the recent developments and valuable research.

Rules of Origin | Episode 4 | Multilateral Discipline | Stefano Inama, UNCTAD

In this fourth episode Alexandre Veuthey, Ph.D. researcher at the University of Geneva talks to Stefano Inama, Chief, Technical Assistance and Enhanced Integrated Framework section at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) about the efforts to establish multilateral discipline on rules of origin. Stefano Inama explains how multilateral rules would be beneficial to governments, the private sector and consumers. He discusses why it is difficult to get traction for movement at intergovernmental level. Finally, he shares his expectations with regard to the upcoming (in February 2020) update of the Annex K of the Revised Kyoto Convention.

Rules of Origin | Episode 3 | The Private Sector | Pier Paolo Ghetti, Deloitte

In the third episode from the series on rules of origin Pramila Crivelli, Assistant Professor at the Goethe University Frankfurt interviews Pier Paolo Ghetti, Partner, Global Trade Advisory EMEA, Deloitte. They discuss why rules of origin are important from the private sector perspective and questions such as:

• What is the most costly factor for firms – compliance with the specific criteria or the administrative burden?
• What is the role of companies in trade negotiations?
• What are the expectations from the Technical Committee on Rules of Origin at the World Customs Organization (WCO) in Brussels in February 2020?
• Is the private sector willing to advocate the case for plurilateral negotiations on rules of origin?

Rules of Origin | Episode 2 | LDCs, Duty-Free & Quota-Free Market Access

In the second episode, interviewed by Matteo Fiorini of the GGP, Stefano Inama talks about the implications of the current rules of origin system for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), what needs to improve and what is the role of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Rules of Origin | Episode 1 | Introduction

The first episode of ‘Rules of Origin’ provides a general introduction on the topic, explains how it impacts our everyday lives, and describes the joint research initiative of UNCTAD and EUI.