Rules of origin in free trade agreements A brief study of the FTA Colombia-USA

Abstract

The present review of the aspects of free trade and Rules of Origin as a fundamental aspect of the same, aims to give an overall assessment of free trade agreements within the Colombian orbit, some of its consequences and the elements that compose them, especially regarding the concern of Rules of Origin. The study of the Rules of Origin as one of the key aspects of the negotiations of any FTA is crucial in order to understand whether they seek to protect any industry sector, or whether they have been established to facilitate free trade instead. Through a brief assessment of the Free Trade Agreement between Colombia and the United States, the position taken during the negotiations, and the interests of both countries prior to the signing of the agreement, we will make an assessment of how rigorous the Rules of Origin in that agreement may be.