Convergence in the Rules of Origin Spaghetti Bowl: A Methodological Proposal

Many countries are concerned by the dense body of regulations governing their preferential foreign trade and are seeking to simplify the current diversity of rules. To do this they are starting to look at alternatives that allow a degree of convergence between their agreements. This paper aims to develop a methodological proposal to facilitate negotiation and application of a convergent origin regime, thus enabling the simultaneous use of the tariff reductions agreed in various agreements and establishing a mechanism to cumulate imported inputs under different trade agreements.