This study is placed in the context of the emerging concerns regarding Rules of Origin (RoO) in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). The first set of RoO for India, embedded in the text of the India–Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISLFTA), is analyzed with respect to its design and implementation issues. The first finding is high restrictive score of ISLFTA RoO on a comparative scale with RoO of other world FTAs. Absence of supplementary rules in their design seems to be the culprit, though such absence makes them procedurally simple. The effect of such restrictiveness on businesses is commented upon. The second issue is the circumvention of RoO norms in case of copper exports from Sri Lanka. This shows how problematic the issue of enforcement of RoO is, especially in a developing country perspective. A re-look into policy issues regarding both design and implementation of RoO is suggested.
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