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FedEx Certificate of Origin

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN

(ARTICLES SHIPPED FROM INSULAR POSSESSIONS, EXCEPT PUERTO RICO, TO THE UNITED STATES)

19 CFR 7.3

1. PORT

2. DATE

3. CERTIFICATE NO.

4. NAME OF PERSON COMPLETING CERTIFICATE

5. NAME OF FIRM

6. SHIPPERS EXPORT DEC. NO.

7. DATE FILED

8. CARRIER (Vessel or Airline)

9. DESTINATION (Port of)

10. CONSIGNED TO

11. LOCATION OF CONSIGNEE (City and State)

12.
MARKS AND
NUMBERS

13.
QUANTITY

14.
DESCRIPTION OF ARTICLES

FOREIGN MATERIALS
MATERIALS DESCRIBED IN GENERAL NOTE 3 (a)(iv)(B)(2)

15.
Description

16.
Value

17.
Description

18.
Date Imported into Insular Possession

19.
Date Incorporated into Imported Goods

20. INSULAR POSSESSION WHERE MERCHANDISE WAS PRODUCED OR MANUFACTURED

21. INSULAR POSSESSION OF WHICH MATERIALS ARE THE GROWTH, PRODUCT, OR MANUFACTURE

22. ADDRESS OF SHIPPER

I declare that I am the person named above, acting in the capacity indicated; that the description and other particulars of the merchandise specified above are correct as set forth in this certificate; that the said merchandise was produced or manufactured in the insular possession named above, and from the materials grown, produced, or manufactured in the insular possession also named above, or of the United States, or of both; that if foreign materials were used therein, their description and value are shown above.

23. SIGNATURE OF SHIPPER

I hereby certify that I have investigated the foregoing statements and am satisfied that they are correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

VERIFICATION OF CBP OFFICER

24. DATE

25. SIGNATURE OF CBP OFFICER

SEE BACK OF FORM FOR FOOTNOTES AND PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT NOTICE. CBP Form 3229 (06/09)

FOOTNOTES

1. General Note 3(a)(iv), Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).

2. Each "foreign material" (i.e., a material which originated in sources other than an insular possession or the United States) shall be listed on a separate line under columns 15 and 16. Columns 15 and 16 do not apply to materials which are not considered "foreign" under General Note 3(a)(iv)(B)(1), (2), HTSUS.

"VALUE" as used in this certificate, refers to the sum of (a) the actual purchase price of each foreign material used, or where a material is provided to the manufacturer without charge, or at less than fair market value, the total of all expenses incurred in the growth, production, or manufacture of the material, including general expenses, plus an amount for profit; and (b) the cost of transporting those materials to the insular possession, but excluding any duties or taxes assessed by the insular possession and any charges which may accrue after landing;

If the materials used in an article originated only in an insular possession or the United States, state "none" in column 15 and leave column 16 blank.

3. Columns 17, 18, and 19 shall be completed if the article incorporates any material described in General Note 3(a)(iv)(B)(2), HTSUS, which is not considered "foreign material" under General Note 3(a)(iv). Each such material shall be listed on a separate line. If no such materials are used, state "none" in column 17 and leave columns 18 and 19 blank.

EXCERPT FROM GENERAL NOTES, HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE OF THE UNITED STATES

General Note 3(a)(iv)

(iv) Products of Insular Possessions

(A) Except as provided in additional U.S. note 5 of chapter 91 and except as provided in additional U.S. note 2 of chapter 96, and except as provided in section 423 of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, goods imported from insular possessions of the United States which are outside the CBP territory of the United States are subject to the rates of duty set forth in column 1 of the tariff schedule, except that all such goods the growth or product of any such possession, or manufactured or produced in any such possession from materials the growth, product or manufacture of any such possession or of the CBP territory of the United States, or of both, which do not contain foreign materials to the value of more than 70 percent of their total value (or more than 50 percent of their total value with respect to goods described in section 213(b) of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act), coming to the CBP territory of the United States directly from any such possession, and all goods previously imported into the CBP territory of the United States with payment of all applicable duties and taxes imposed upon or by reason of importation which were shipped from the United States, without remission, refund, or drawback of such duties or taxes, directly to the possession from which they are being returned by direct shipment, are exempt from duty.

(B) in determining whether goods produced or manufactured in any such insular possession contain foreign materials to the value of more than 70 percent, no material shall be considered foreign which either -

(1) at the time such goods are entered, or

(2) at the time such material is imported into the insular possession.

may be imported into the CBP territory from a foreign country, and entered free of duty; except that no goods containing material to which (2) of this subparagraph applies shall be exempt from duty under subparagraph (A) unless adequate documentation is supplied to show that the material has been incorporated into such goods during the 18-month period after the date on which such material is imported into the insular possession.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: An agency may not conduct or sponsor an information collection and a person is not required to respond to this information unless it displays a current valid OMB control number and an expiration date. The control number for this collection is 1651-0016. The estimated average time to complete this application is 22 minutes. If you have any comments regarding the burden estimate you can write to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Regulations and Rulings, 799 9th Street, NW., Washington DC 20229.

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What the FedEx Certificate of Origin Is and why it matters

The FedEx Certificate of Origin is a standard export document used to certify the country where shipped goods were manufactured or produced. It supports customs clearance, preferential tariff claims, and accurate duty assessment by recording shipper and consignee information, product descriptions, HS/HTS codes, number and weight of packages, and an authorized attestation. Carriers, customs brokers, and importers use the certificate to support claims under trade agreements and to speed inspections. Accurate, timely certificates reduce clearance delays and help avoid reassessments or additional duties.

Why a clear Certificate of Origin benefits cross-border shipments

Using a FedEx Certificate of Origin helps secure preferential tariff treatment, prevents unnecessary customs holds, and documents origin for duty and trade compliance needs.

Why a clear Certificate of Origin benefits cross-border shipments

Who typically prepares and relies on this certificate

Typical users who complete and rely on a FedEx Certificate of Origin include commercial exporters, customs brokers, and international freight managers.

  • Exporters and manufacturers preparing goods for international shipment and claiming trade benefits.
  • Customs brokers and freight forwarders submitting documentation for clearance and duty assessment.
  • Importers and compliance teams verifying origin to support tariff classification and supply chain tracing.

Knowing who completes the form helps ensure correct fields, signatures, and supporting documentation for smoother customs processing.

Primary roles responsible for the Certificate of Origin

Export Manager

Manages export documentation, completes the Certificate of Origin, verifies country-of-origin, HS/HTS classifications, and commercial invoices, coordinates with customs brokers and production teams, and confirms an authorized signatory signs the attestation to prevent clearance delays and tariff disputes.

Customs Broker

Prepares and files customs entries using the Certificate of Origin, validates origin claims against product components, assists in claiming preferential tariff treatment, and advises importers on documentary compliance to reduce risks of penalties or additional duties.

Required information: essential fields on the certificate

Shipper name: Full legal name as on invoice
Consignee name: Full legal name and delivery address
Country of origin: Country where goods were made
Product description: Clear description with quantities
HS/HTS code: Correct tariff classification number
Signature block: Authorized signatory name and date

Consequences of incorrect or missing origin information

Customs delays: Shipment held pending verification
Loss of preferences: Denied preferential tariff claims
Additional duties: Retroactive duty assessments possible
Fines and penalties: Civil fines or administrative fees
Cargo inspections: Increased risk of physical inspection
Reputational risk: Importers may face compliance audits

Frequent preparation errors to avoid

  • Using imprecise product descriptions that omit model numbers or material composition, which causes classification disputes and inspection delays.
  • Entering incorrect HS/HTS codes or omitting quantity/weight details, leading customs to request supplementary information and hold the shipment.
  • Mismatched names between commercial invoice and certificate of origin, which can trigger verification requests or rejection by customs.
  • Failing to use an authorized signatory or to date the signature, which can invalidate the attestation under importing-country rules.

Illustrative scenarios showing practical use

These concise examples show how accurate Certificates of Origin support trade preferences, reduce inspection time, and clarify liability for cross-border shipments.

Manufacturing Exporter

A U.S. appliance manufacturer exports assembled units to Canada and the EU, needing accurate origin documentation for preferential tariffs.

  • The company claimed USMCA preference for North American content, supported by supplier declarations and HTS codes.
  • By completing a FedEx Certificate of Origin with verified component origins and clear HS codes, the exporter avoided additional inspections, received preferential duty rates at import, and reduced landed cost uncertainty across multiple shipments.

Apparel Exporter

A small apparel brand ships garments overseas and must document fiber content and country of manufacture.

  • The exporter attaches certificates and supplier affidavits for origin substantiation.
  • Maintaining consistent Certificates of Origin plus supplier attestations enabled faster customs release, fewer documentation queries, and reliable application of preferential tariffs under a free trade arrangement.

Step-by-step: completing a FedEx Certificate of Origin

Follow these practical steps to complete the certificate accurately before shipment.

  • 01
    1. Prepare details: Gather shipper, consignee, product, and invoice information
  • 02
    2. Enter product data: Describe goods, quantities, weight, and HS/HTS codes
  • 03
    3. Verify origin: Confirm manufacturing location and supplier declarations
  • 04
    4. Sign and date: Authorized signatory signs, dates, and returns the form

Where the certificate goes and who receives it

Understand routing so customs, carriers, and trading partners receive the certificate when required.

  • Carrier copy: FedEx or chosen carrier receives a copy for transport documentation
  • Customs broker: Broker files certificate with customs entry to claim preferences
  • Importer: Importer retains copy for customs and compliance records
  • Internal records: Exporter keeps original for audit and possible verification

Configuring a digital workflow for the certificate

Basic digital workflow settings help standardize completion, approval, and retention of Certificates of Origin.

Field Configuration
Document template Use a locked PDF template with editable fields
Signature field Require an authorized eSignature and date stamp
Conditional fields Show supplier declaration only when needed
Retention rule Archive signed PDFs in a compliance folder

Technical considerations for eSubmission and signing

Ensure the service records an audit trail (timestamp, IP, signer identity), stores signed copies securely, and supports required industry integrations for customs workflows.

  • File formats: PDF, DOCX accepted, preserve original layout
  • Authenticators: Email, SMS, or stronger multi-factor options
  • Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace compatible

Timing and submission expectations

Key timing points to avoid shipment holds and to meet importer or customs requirements.

Prepare before export:

Complete certificate prior to cargo departure

Attach at shipment:

Include a copy with commercial invoice and packing list

Provide to broker:

Give to customs broker at entry filing time

Respond promptly:

Answer customs queries within requested timeframe

Retain documentation:

Keep records for required legal retention periods

Processing milestones from preparation to retention

Sequential milestones indicate responsibilities from creation through recordkeeping.

01

Document creation

Shipper completes certificate with accurate product and origin data

02

Verification step

Compliance or broker confirms HS codes and supplier declarations

03

Signature and transmission

Authorized signatory signs and transmits to carrier and broker

04

Record retention

Signed certificate archived for audit and verification purposes

eSignature pricing and capability snapshot for Certificates of Origin

Compare core pricing and capability points for signNow and common alternatives when choosing an eSignature provider for Certificates of Origin.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial, no card Varies — verify Varies — verify Varies — verify Varies — verify
Bulk Send Yes Varies — verify Varies — verify Varies — verify Varies — verify
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Envelope Cap No envelope cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies — verify Varies — verify Varies — verify

Core components of a compliant Certificate of Origin package

A complete submission pairs a correct certificate with supporting documents and audit evidence to meet customs and importer requirements.

Shipper details

Full exporter name, address, and contact information matching commercial invoices and shipping documents.

Consignee details

Full importer name and delivery address used in the customs entry and bill of lading.

Product data

Clear descriptions, quantities, weights, and unit measures that enable accurate tariff classification.

HTS classification

Correct HS/HTS codes to determine applicable duties and to support preferential claims.

Origin attestation

An authorized signatory statement asserting the country of origin and basis for the claim.

Supporting papers

Supplier declarations, invoices, packing lists, and any statutory origin documentation for audits.

Practical tips for accurate, efficient completion

Adopt these practices to reduce errors, speed clearance, and maintain audit-ready records.

Standardize templates
Use a locked, preapproved template to ensure consistent field placement and required legal language across shipments.
Validate HS codes
Have tariff classifications reviewed by customs specialists to avoid reclassification and unexpected duties.
Confirm signatory authority
Maintain a roster of authorized signers and require identity verification for remote signatures.
Keep supporting records
Retain supplier declarations and invoices to substantiate origin claims during customs audits.

Frequently asked questions about the FedEx Certificate of Origin

Answers to common questions about signing, notarization, retention, and electronic submission of Certificates of Origin.


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