India and MERCOSUR Sign First Additional Protocol to Facilitate Electronic Certificates of Origin

India and MERCOSUR signed the First Additional Protocol to the India–MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to facilitate the acceptance of electronic Certificates of Origin. The protocol amends Article 16 of Annex III (Rules of Origin) of the PTA, giving electronic Certificates of Origin the same legal validity and value as paper documents. Signed by the Commerce Secretary of India and representatives of MERCOSUR member nations, the measure aims to promote paperless trade, reduce transaction costs and processing times, and modernize customs procedures under the existing PTA, which originally entered into force in June 2009.