Certificate of Origin
The wrong CO type costs you the duty reduction you were entitled to. Find the right certificate for your trade route.
CO Type Finder
Select your export and import regions to get the correct certificate type and where to obtain it.
The 5 Main Certificate Types
Each type serves a different purpose. Using the wrong one means paying full duties even when an FTA applies.
Standard CO
Non-preferentialThe most common type. Issued by a Chamber of Commerce, it proves where your goods were manufactured. It does not reduce duties — it simply certifies origin. Required for most letters of credit, many import licenses, and any country that doesn't have a preferential arrangement with your export country.
Use when: no FTA applies, or the importer/buyer specifically requests it
EUR.1 Movement Certificate
EU FTAThe EUR.1 is used between the EU and its FTA partner countries. Unlike a standard CO, it grants the importer the right to apply reduced or zero import duties under the relevant FTA. It is issued by customs — not a Chamber of Commerce — and the goods must meet the specific Rules of Origin set out in the relevant agreement.
Use when: exporting between EU and EFTA, Mediterranean, ACP, or other EU FTA countries
GSP Form A
Developing countriesForm A is issued to exporters in developing countries who are shipping to countries that grant GSP preferences — including the EU, US, Japan, Canada, and others. It allows the importer to claim reduced or zero duties under the Generalised System of Preferences. The specific countries and products eligible change regularly.
Use when: exporting from a GSP-eligible country to a GSP-granting country
USMCA Certificate
US / CA / MXThe USMCA replaced NAFTA in 2020. For trade between the US, Canada, and Mexico, a USMCA certificate is required to claim preferential tariff rates. Unlike most COs, it can be self-certified by the exporter — there is no mandatory government or Chamber involvement, though the exporter must keep supporting documentation for at least 5 years.
Use when: trading between US, Canada, and Mexico under USMCA
ASEAN Form D
ASEANForm D is the CO for ASEAN intra-regional trade under the ASEAN Free Trade Area. It grants preferential CEPT (Common Effective Preferential Tariff) rates between member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. It must be issued by the national trade ministry or customs authority.
Use when: trading between ASEAN member states under AFTA
6 Mistakes That Invalidate a Certificate of Origin
Using a standard CO when an FTA applies
If an FTA exists between your export and import countries, a standard Chamber of Commerce CO won't get the duty reduction — you need the specific FTA certificate (EUR.1, Form A, USMCA, etc.). Importers lose the preferential rate and pay full MFN duties because the wrong CO type was submitted.
Failing the Rules of Origin
Every FTA certificate requires the goods to meet specific Rules of Origin — minimum local content, substantial transformation, or tariff classification change. If your product uses components from non-FTA countries and doesn't meet the threshold, the preferential rate will be denied even with a valid CO.
Description doesn't match the commercial invoice
The goods description on the CO must match the description on the commercial invoice and packing list. Customs compares these documents. A CO that describes 'textile fabrics' while the invoice says 'woven polyester rolls' will be queried — even if they refer to the same goods.
Wrong issuing authority
A EUR.1 issued by a Chamber of Commerce is invalid — it must come from customs. A USMCA certificate submitted on an old NAFTA form is invalid. Each CO type has a specific issuing authority, and using the wrong one means the document has no legal force regardless of its content.
Missing or incorrect HS code
The HS code on the CO must match the commercial invoice and customs declaration. An incorrect HS code can shift the goods into a different tariff category — changing the duty rate, triggering non-tariff barriers, or invalidating the FTA preference claim entirely.
Applying for it after shipment
Most COs must be applied for before or at the time of export. Retrospective COs are only valid in specific circumstances and require special procedures. Applying after the goods have arrived at the destination port is usually too late — the importer has already paid full duties.