Rules of origin (RoO) are specific provisions developed from principles established by national legislation or international agreements, known as 'origin criteria', and are used by a country to determine the origin of goods.

When used for preferential treatment, rules of origin (RoO) are typically designed to prevent tariff circumvention and ensure that discriminatory treatment is applied to the intended beneficiaries. As negotiated instruments, RoO serve the objectives of the negotiating parties.

Beyond traditional economic and industrial interests, they can also serve non-traditional objectives, such as environmental sustainability.