Country of Origin

What is country of origin?

This is the location where your goods are manufactured or produced.

While the country of origin might be straightforward in the production of a simple product, rules of origin are used to determine the country of origin for trade purposes, and differ from country to country.

Why does country of origin matter?

Customs authorities use country of origin to set duty rates, apply trade agreements, enforce anti-dumping duties and tariffs, and track trade statistics. A product made in one country can face a different duty rate than the same product made elsewhere. You declare origin on the commercial invoice and the customs entry.

Origin isn't always where the product ships from. When a product has parts or processing from several countries, rules of origin decide which country counts, often based on where the last substantial transformation happened or on the share of local content. Origin also differs from country of export, which is only where the shipment leaves.

Many countries require products to carry an origin marking, and a wrong origin claim can lead to penalties and back-duty bills. Keep supplier documents, such as certificates of origin, that support your claim.

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