Certificates of Origin
A Certificate of Origin (CO) for export is an international trade document that certifies the country where goods or products originate. The Certificate of Origin is a vital document in international trade, providing Customs officials with the necessary information to assess whether goods can be imported and what duties apply. Many countries require COs to be authenticated by Chambers of Commerce. Exporters and Chambers must ensure that these certificates are accurate and comply with the relevant international rules.
Purpose and Legal Requirements
Certificates of Origin are used for various purposes in international trade, including:
- To satisfy Customs requirements in the importing country.
- To comply with quota regulations and determine the amount of duty that should be paid.
- To benefit from bilateral or multi-lateral trade agreements, as goods may qualify for a tariff reduction or exemption if they originate from certain countries.
- To meet the requirements of Letters of Credit.
Chambers and exporters need to ensure that they understand the requirements of the destination country and relevant international rules when preparing a Certificate of Origin. The AWTCC is familiar with the international guidelines covering Certificates of Origin, as well as the rules of origin, including substantial transformation. Non-compliance can lead to goods being detained at customs, facing additional duties, or being denied entry altogether.
Types of Certificates of Origin
- Preferential Certificates of Origin relate to exports that fall under Free Trade Agreements between countries or groups of countries, which have special reduced (or zero) rates of duty on trade between the nations.
- Non-preferential Certificates of Origin are used for goods that are not being exported to countries with which the exporting country has a free trade agreement. They certify the country of origin for purposes of general importation into the destination country.
Chambers of Commerce are qualified to issue non-preferential Certificates of Origin. Chambers are expected to be in compliance with guidelines and best practices under ICC Publication 809e. Chambers should be aware of the expectations and liabilities prior to self-issuing Certificates of Origin. AWTCC has extensive experience in Certificates of Origin, is ICC Accredited, and has staff that hold training certificates from the ICC in Paris.
Role of the International Chamber of Commerce
The ICC, which is perhaps best known for its International Court of Arbitration in Paris, publishes a wide variety of international trade rules and guidelines followed by its member countries, including the rules for Certificates of Origin. In addition, the ICC maintains the verification site used widely by Customs authorities, banks, and others involved in international compliance. The AWTCC participates in the ICC verification system, which means our Certificates of Origin can be easily verified online at the official site.
Electronic Certificates of Origin
Issuing thousands of Certificates of Origin online every month, the AWTCC is one of the world’s leading issuers of electronic Certificates of Origin. Our Certificates display our ICC Accreditation logo and can be verified electronically by Customs authorities, which means exporters are providing their overseas buyers with a safe and secure document. Our easy-to-use online system makes the process efficient, and our official online verification and other security measures mean they are less susceptible to fraud.
Online Certificate of Origin affinity program
The American World Trade Chamber of Commerce provides an Online Certification System as an affinity program – one of the largest Chamber affinity programs in the United States. Put our skilled and knowledgeable team of certified Certificate of Origin experts to work for your members – and you’ll get all the credit! Our branded CO system puts your Chamber front and center in providing the highest level of service to your exporting members. Schedule an online meeting to learn more.
Interested in a partnership?