This article explains how chambers of commerce help exporters create and certify non-preferential certificates of origin, how the process has evolved from paper to electronic certification, and what exporters should know about legalization, accuracy and best practices.
A certificate of origin (COO) is an export document that certifies the country where a product was manufactured. It may be required by the importing country’s customs authorities, banks or importers for several reasons, including:
A non-preferential certificate of origin—also known as a generic certificate of origin—is the most common type. It simply states the country of manufacture and does not claim any tariff benefits under a free trade agreement (FTA). Preferential proofs of origin, such as a USMCA Certificate or a statement of origin, are separate documents and are not typically certified by chambers of commerce.
There are more than 7,000 chambers of commerce across the United States, serving local, regional and industry-specific business communities. Among their many activities, chambers are authorized to authenticate export documents, including certificates of origin, on behalf of exporters.
By stamping or digitally certifying a certificate of origin, a chamber of commerce serves as an impartial third party attesting that the information provided by the exporter appears to be correct based on supporting documentation. The chamber does not guarantee the accuracy of the data—it verifies that the exporter has supplied appropriate evidence.
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), through its World Chambers Federation (WCF), established global best practices for issuing certificates of origin. The ICC’s International Certificate of Origin Guidelines define standardized procedures for chambers, including secure seal management, record retention and staff training.
Chambers that meet these standards may apply for recognition under the ICC World Chambers Federation Accreditation Chain—a global network of trusted chambers whose eCOs can be verified through the ICC Verification Portal. Using an ICC-accredited chamber helps ensure that your certificate will be recognized internationally and accepted by customs authorities without delays.
The American World Trade Chamber of Commerce (AWTCC) is one of the few U.S. chambers accredited through this system. Shipping Solutions partners with AWTCC to provide exporters with ICC-compliant electronic certificates of origin.
While straightforward, this paper-based process could be slow and costly, especially when courier delivery or multiple copies were required.
Today, exporters can save time and cost by using electronic certificates of origin (eCOs). Through a secure online portal, exporters upload the required documents, submit their data, and receive a digitally signed certificate from an accredited chamber—often within hours.
With an eCO, you can:
Shipping Solutions’ electronic certificate of origin service costs $50 per certificate ($25 for Annual Maintenance Program subscribers). The process is quick, secure and recognized by customs authorities worldwide.
Companies that use Shipping Solutions export documentation and compliance software can submit their eCO applications right from the software without having to reenter the export information that they are using to create all their other export forms. Learn more about using Shipping Solutions software for all your documents including certificates of origin. Click here to schedule a free, no-obligation demo, or watch this video to see how it works:
In some cases, the destination country may require additional authentication of export documents—known as legalization or consularization. This process involves verifying the chamber-certified certificate through the country’s U.S. embassy or consulate before export.
Shipments to certain Middle Eastern, African and Latin American countries, for example, may require consular legalization. Your chamber or freight forwarder can advise when this applies and assist in coordinating the consular process.
Electronic certificates of origin issued by ICC-accredited chambers such as the AWTCC are increasingly accepted in place of paper legalization, but exporters should always verify requirements with the importer or destination customs authority.
A chamber of commerce may refuse to stamp a certificate if:
If this occurs, review your documentation, clarify the country of manufacture, and resubmit through an accredited chamber.
A Minnesota-based exporter ships industrial valves to a customer in the United Arab Emirates. The importer requests a non-preferential certificate of origin for customs clearance.
The importer verifies authenticity through the ICC portal and clears the shipment without delay.
Chambers of commerce continue to play a vital role in verifying the origin of exported goods. By moving to electronic certification and following ICC best practices, exporters can save time, reduce errors and improve the credibility of their export documentation.
Ready to simplify your certificates of origin?
Click here to learn more about the eCO process and to register for a free account.
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This article was first published in January 2016 and has been updated to include current information, links and formatting.