A Certificate of Origin

A Certificate of Origin is a document used in international trade which is required by many countries.  This document certifies the country in which the imported goods were mined, manufactured, or assembled in contrast to the country from which the goods are shipped.  Information about whether a certificate of origin is needed when exporting and what information the document must contain can be obtained from the consulate of the importing country or in a current export reference guide.  A Certificate of Origin certifying the country of origin of the merchandise is required by certain foreign countries for tariff purposes on goods being imported into those foreign countries.

A Certificate of Origin contains much the same information as the consular invoice. Some countries even have space on their consular invoice to show the country of origin of each item, thus obviating the need for separate or multiple certificates of origin.  A Certificate of Origin is usually required by governments whose tariff laws favor certain countries. These favoring tariff laws necessitate a certificate documenting the origin of the articles imported. Thus, the importing country can determine can use a certificate of origin to easily determine which imports shall benefit from favorable treatment.

The importer presents the Certificate of Origin to Customs to show the origin of the goods so that preferential tariff rates, discounts from regular tariff rates, or other deductions granted in agreements between the countries of the buyer and exporter can be taken into consideration.

© 2011 by Michael C. Dennis.  All Rights Reserved.  Mr. Dennis is the author of "1001 Collection Tools and Tips" and can be reached by email at mcdennis13@yahoo.com