USMCA Certificate of Origin
A certificate proving goods qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
What It Is
The USMCA Certificate of Origin (formerly NAFTA Certificate of Origin) certifies that goods traded between the United States, Mexico, and Canada meet the agreement's rules of origin and therefore qualify for reduced or zero duty rates. USMCA replaced NAFTA on July 1, 2020.
Unlike the old NAFTA form, the USMCA certification does not require a specific form — it can be provided as a standalone document, on the invoice, or in any other format, as long as it contains all required data elements.
When It's Required
- US-Mexico-Canada trade — When the importer wants to claim preferential duty rates under USMCA
- Voluntary — The importer is not required to claim USMCA preference, but forfeits duty savings without it
- Blanket period — A single certificate can cover multiple shipments of identical goods for up to 12 months
Required Fields
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Certifier | Name, address, and title (may be exporter, producer, or importer) |
| Exporter | Name, address, and country (if different from certifier) |
| Producer | Name, address, and country (if different from exporter) |
| Importer | Name, address, and country |
| Description of goods | Product description for each good |
| HS code | Six-digit tariff classification (minimum) |
| Origin criterion | How each good qualifies (A through D) |
| Blanket period | Start and end dates if covering multiple shipments |
| Country of origin | US, MX, or CA |
| Authorized signature | Signature and date of the certifier |
Klervex Validation
Klervex validates that:
- Origin country is US, MX, or CA
- Destination country is US, MX, or CA (and different from origin)
- HS codes are present and valid at the six-digit level
- Origin criterion is specified for each line item (A, B, C, or D)
- Certifier information is complete
- Blanket period dates are valid if provided