There are over 300 Free Trade Agreements (FTA) in force around the world today. According to the Origin Database developed by the WCO, 96% of the WCO Members are taking part in one or more FTAs, with an average of approximately 8 agreements per Member. The effective and efficient implementation of preferential rules of origin in FTAs is one of the major tasks for Member Customs administrations.
Several documents have been developed by the WCO in order to assist Members in enhancing their capacity to verify preferential origin. They consist of a study on control and verification methods in Member Customs administrations and guidelines on verification of preferential origin.