But if your team is still relying on paper-based processes, you may already be feeling the strain. Exporters today are facing increasing documentation requirements, tighter enforcement and growing pressure from global partners to go digital.
So the question isn’t just paper vs. electronic. It’s whether your export process is keeping up with the realities of modern trade.
A certificate of origin is a document that certifies the country where a product was manufactured. It’s used by customs authorities to determine duties, enforce trade agreements and verify compliance with regulations. In many cases, the certificate must be reviewed and certified by a chamber of commerce, which acts as an independent third party confirming that the exporter has provided supporting documentation for the origin claim.
In many ways, the COO acts as the “cover letter” of your shipment. That first impression matters. And today, the stakes are higher than ever:
If it feels like you’re being asked for COOs more often than before, you’re not imagining it.
In our recent webinar, Determining the Country of Origin for Your Products, Alex Sonifrank of the American World Trade Chamber of Commerce (AWTCC) explained that exporters are seeing a surge in documentation requirements worldwide. (Watch the webinar recording at the link above.)
In fact, Sonifrank said many exporters are being caught off guard: “At least once a day… we’re getting companies reaching out and saying, ‘I’ve been shipping for the last 30 years—I’ve never needed a stamped certificate of origin before.’”
What’s driving more importers to request COOs?
As Sonifrank put it: “Documentation requirements are absolutely increasing as time goes on… we don’t necessarily expect that trend to change.”
For decades, exporters have relied on paper certificates of origin. The process typically looks like this:
While familiar, this approach comes with significant drawbacks:
In today’s fast-moving supply chains, these inefficiencies can quickly become costly.
Electronic certificates of origin (eCOs) allow exporters to create, submit and receive certified COOs entirely online—and globally, they’re quickly becoming the standard.
While many U.S. exporters still rely on paper, much of the world has already moved on.
The shift to eCOs isn’t just about convenience. It’s about compliance and security.
eCOs eliminate mailing delays and in-person visits. Documents can often be reviewed and certified the same day, and eCOs include features like:
And importantly, they’re more secure than traditional paper methods.
Many importers now expect digital documentation—and some even question paper-based processes altogether.
Shipping Solutions has partnered with AWTCC to make creating an eCO accredited by the International Chamber of Commerce quick and affordable. Simply register for a free account on our eCO portal here. After receiving your login details, you’ll enter shipment details and upload supporting documents. Turn-around is typically hours rather than days and costs only $50 per document rather than a couple hundred dollars with signing and courier fees. (Shipping Solutions software maintenance subscribers save an additional $25 per document.)
This video walks you through the process:
| Factor | Paper CO | Electronic CO (eCO) |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Slow, manual processing | Fast, often same-day |
| Accuracy | Higher risk of errors | Built-in validation reduces mistakes |
| Security | Can be altered or lost | Secure, digitally verified |
| Compliance | Commonly used for FTA certificates and still accepted in many destinations, but requires manual checks and may not meet evolving global standards | Meets or exceeds compliance standards in most cases, with structured workflows that support global requirements |
| Convenience | Requires printing and physical handling | Fully digital workflow |
| Storage | Physical storage required | Secure digital recordkeeping |
| Cost | Higher indirect costs (courier fees, delays, admin time) | Lower overall cost with faster processing and fewer errors |
When you’re exporting under a free trade agreement (FTA)—like USMCA or U.S. agreements with Korea, Australia or Singapore—the goal isn’t just to identify origin. It’s to prove your product qualifies for reduced or zero tariffs.
In many of these cases, a formal, chamber-stamped COO may not be required and the certificate is often self-certified by the exporter. However, specific data elements and language are required depending on the agreement. To help exporters meet these requirements, Shipping Solutions offers a free library of certificate of origin templates for the FTAs the United States has with its trading partners.
Even though FTAs are often less formal, they’re not lower risk. Sonifrank said more and more exporters are choosing to digitize their FTA documentation processes simply to ensure consistency, accuracy and audit readiness across all shipments. It’s also becoming more common for importers to request an eCO certified by a chamber, even under an FTA.
Global trade is moving in one direction: digital.
But certificates of origin are just one piece of the export documentation puzzle.
If you’re looking to streamline all of your export paperwork, Shipping Solutions export documentation and compliance software can help you:
If you think we could help, we’d love to show you how it works!
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