Certificate of Origin

Category: Documents

Definition (plain English)

A certificate or supplier declaration used to show where goods originate for customs, preference, buyer, or regulatory purposes.

Why it matters commercially

Origin evidence can change duty rates, unlock or invalidate preference claims, and determine whether customs accepts the declared treatment.

Example

An importer claimed preferential duty only after the supplier provided a certificate of origin backed by bill-of-material and production records.

Common mistake

Treating any origin certificate as automatic proof of preference without checking the trade agreement rule and supporting records.

Use this in CommerceKit