Definition
A document certifying the country in which the goods were produced, used to determine duty treatment.
A Certificate of Origin states where the goods were manufactured or sufficiently transformed. It is typically issued or endorsed by a chamber of commerce or competent authority and may be a plain CoO or a preferential one tied to a free-trade agreement.
The declared origin drives the tariff treatment the goods receive at import — preferential origin can reduce or eliminate duty, while incorrect origin can trigger penalties. It works alongside the commercial invoice in the customs file.
Related terms
Commercial Invoice
The seller’s bill to the buyer, and the primary document customs uses to assess value, duty, and tax.
Customs Duty
A tax levied on imported goods, calculated from their customs value, HS classification, and origin.
Tariff
The published schedule of duty rates a country applies to imported goods, organized by HS classification.
Customs Clearance
The process of getting goods released by customs through declaration, document checks, and duty payment.
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