How goods legally enter a country · Origin is a legal claim
Certificate of origin — proving where goods were made
Evidence that goods meet an origin rule, used for preferential duty, quotas, marking and trade statistics.
Key facts
| Preferential | Used to claim a lower or zero duty under a trade agreement |
|---|---|
| Non-preferential | Used for general origin, marking, quota or statistical purposes |
| Issuers | Chambers of commerce, customs authorities or self-certification, depending on the agreement |
| USMCA | A certification of origin is completed by the importer, exporter or producer; no prescribed form |
| EU | EUR.1, origin declaration or another valid proof depending on the agreement |
| Records | Keep bills of materials, production records and supplier declarations |
| Penalty risk | A false origin claim can trigger duty recovery and penalties |
| Official source | The text of the relevant trade agreement and destination customs guidance |
Origin is not the same as shipping point
Goods shipped from China are not necessarily Chinese-origin goods, and goods assembled in one country may not qualify under a trade agreement's rules of origin. The rule usually looks at where materials came from and how much transformation happened.
For a preferential claim, read the product-specific rule. A change of tariff heading, a regional value content threshold or a specific process may be required, and documentation must support it.
The importer often carries the risk
Even when the exporter provides a certificate, the importer may have to demonstrate that the claim was valid. Keep supplier declarations and cost records, especially for goods with materials from several countries.
If the origin is uncertain, do not claim a preference just because a supplier says so. A wrong claim can cost more than the duty it avoided.
Frequently asked questions
Does every shipment need a certificate of origin?
No. It is needed when a preference, quota, marking rule or destination requirement calls for it. Check the specific import rule.
Can an exporter self-certify origin?
Some agreements allow self-certification by an approved exporter, producer or importer. Others require a chamber or customs-issued certificate.
Ask a compliance question
Free first answer by email. Tell us the destination, the product and the channel — we will point you to the rule and the official source. No obligation, no sales sequence.