"SUBSTANTIAL TRANSFORMATION" - THE WORST RULE FOR DETERMINING ORIGIN OF GOODS - EXCEPT FOR ALL THE REST.

The article explores the complexities and controversies surrounding the determination of a product's country of origin in international trade. It discusses the "substantial transformation" test, which is commonly used to determine origin, but suggests that it needs to be updated to account for modern manufacturing processes and intangibles. The article also examines alternative approaches to determining origin, such as value-content rules and process-based rules, but acknowledges their limitations. Overall, the article emphasizes the importance of consistent and predictable rules of origin in international trade. [Extracted from the article]