Customs

The application of the Alternative Rules of Origin will allow a significant number of goods produced or processed in Ukraine to acquire Ukrainian preferential origin for export to the EU. This, in turn, will potentially increase the volume of exports of Ukrainian products to European markets. Given the benefits for Ukrainian businesses, the European Business Association welcomes the introduction of Alternative Rules of Origin in EU-Ukraine relations.

According to business representatives, the Alternative Rules are more flexible for manufacturing companies in terms of obtaining preferential origin for goods (compared to the current version of the rules). Although the Alternative Rules do not replace the current version of the Pan-Euro-Med Convention, companies will now be able to choose which version of the rules to apply.

The EBA Customs Committee experts have been consistently and actively communicating with government officials on the relevance of this issue for business and advocating for the speedy implementation of these rules to increase export potential.

Earlier, Ukraine has already introduced the possibility of applying the Alternative Rules in its relations with Moldova, so the next steps will be to introduce these rules in the EU-Ukraine-Moldova trilateral relations, as well as with other trading partners.

The EBA, in turn, will continue to work in this direction. Also, shortly, the Customs Committee will hold an information event on new opportunities related to the Alternative Rules.