USCIB is no longer accepting applications for eCOs
USCIB is no longer in the Certificate of Origin business. Effective immediately, we will no longer accept new applications
USCIB’s eCO service is powered by eCertify. Other organizations in the U.S. also use the eCertify software and can be found at eCertify.com
We apologize for this inconvenience.
For any questions please email support@ecertify.com
What is a Certificate of Origin?
According to multiple reputable sources, a Certificate of Origin (often abbreviated to CO or COO), is an international trade document attesting to the origin of specified goods. It is often required by the customs authorities of a country as part of the entry process. The document is completed by the exporter or its agent and certified by an organization in the country of the exporter, such as a chamber of commerce, trade organization, and/or consular office.
The “origin” does not refer to the country where the goods were shipped from but to the country where they were produced. For products manufactured in two or more countries, origin is obtained in the country where the last substantial economically justified processing is carried out. An often used practice is that if more than 50% of the cost of producing the goods originates from one country, the “national content” is more than 50%, then, that country is acceptable as the country of origin.
Determining the origin of a product is important because it is key to applying import tariffs. Not all goods leaving the U.S need a certificate of origin.
Who determines whether a CO is required?
Either the customs authority of the importing country or a financial institution. The exporter and/or their freight forwarder or customs house broker will know if a CO is required when importing into a foreign country. Ask your banker if a CO is required to comply with a letter of credit.
Who is authorized to sign a CO on behalf of the exporter?
Only the exporter and/or their duly authorized signatories.
Can one Certificate of Origin cover multiple products each with different origin?
Yes, a CO may have multiple items each with a different country of origin.
What is a NAFTA Certificate of Origin?
This type of Certificate of Origin is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection form. It results from the North American Free Trade Agreement and is only used between Canada, Mexico and the United States. An exporter can file this directly with USCBP. For more details on the NAFTA CO, please Click Here.
