NAFTA Rules of Origin
Proposed Amendments — Domestic Consultations

The Department of Foreign Affairs and  International Trade (DFAIT) in conjunction with the other NAFTA parties  have proposed changes to the NAFTA rules of origin with a view to  liberalizing or simplifying some of the rules as they apply to several  product categories, which include: 

miscellaneous edible preparations; petroleum; products of the chemical or allied  industries; plastics and rubber and articles thereof; cork; glass;  non-ferrous metals; certain machinery and mechanical appliances; certain electrical machinery and equipment; sound and television image  recorders and reproducers; locomotives; parts for trailers and  semi-trailers; optical, medical and measuring instruments and parts;  medical and other specialists’ chairs and other furniture; toys and  games and miscellaneous manufactured articles.

These  changes will be the fourth set of amendments that have been introduced  to the NAFTA rules of origin since 2005, and these proposed amendments  are planned for implementation in 2013. DFAIT will be accepting comments and views from interested stakeholders, either for or against these  proposals, until October 19, 2012.

For additional details of the proposed amendments and specific changes, and the address for making any comments refer to The Canada Gazette. The Gazette notification also includes a reference to the current NAFTA Annex 401 rules of origin for comparison of the existing rules to the  proposed amendments for purposes of determining how these changes may  affect you.

For further information, contact Bob Cowie.