Origin procedures chapter summary
Learn more about CUSMA
Agreement fact sheets
The origin procedures chapter (formerly referred to as customs procedures) is used by the customs administrations of each Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) country to administer the rules of origin of goods in order to enable the trade community to take advantage of the preferential tariff treatment afforded under CUSMA.
CUSMA’s origin procedures contain obligations in areas such as certification of origin, record keeping, origin verifications, advance rulings, appeals, penalties and cooperation. Accordingly, the chapter prescribes the processes necessary for traders to take full advantage of CUSMA, while at the same time providing the customs administrations with an applicable methodology to ensure that only qualifying goods receive the benefits of the Agreement.
The CUSMA origin procedures have been modernized to better support today’s trade environment and limit the administration costs to traders by providing for electronic processes, increasing trader participation in certification and verification, providing a simpler means by which to certify the origin of the good, and enhancing cooperation amongst the customs administrations in the application of the rules of origin. At the same time, the procedures demonstrate an appropriate balance between ensuring compliance and facilitating trade.
Technical summary of negotiated outcomes: Origin procedures
- Introduces new procedures that provide for electronic processes, promotes trader participation during origin certification and verification, simplifies the certification process, encourages voluntary compliance, and provides for enhanced enforcement and cooperation among the customs administrations to ensure legitimate goods benefit from CUSMA.
- Similar to the original NAFTA, includes rules for traders and the customs administrations such as, certification, voluntary compliance, record keeping requirements, origin advance rulings, refunds, detailed origin verifications, appeal rights and cooperation amongst the customs administrations of the CUSMA parties. These obligations will help to:
- Reduce the administration costs for traders, thereby promoting participation in CUSMA; and
- Ensure that traders are treated in a fair and transparent manner by the customs administrations in the application of the rules of origin.
- Specifically allows for:
- Certification by the exporter, producer or importer;
- A simpler means of certifying the origin of the good, through the use of the invoice, electronic transmission, including electronic signature;
- Appeal rights for exporters, producers and importers;
- Voluntary compliance; and
- Enhanced cooperation amongst the customs administrations.
- Date Modified:
