Guidance for exporters: Certificates of origin for the USA.

Following a recent audit, exporters trading with the United States should be aware of updated guidance on completing Box 5 on UK Certificates of Origin.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) does not currently recognise UK Certificates of Origin issued by Chambers of Commerce as valid proof of origin for goods entering the USA.

However, when applying for a UK Certificate of Origin, you should include the following statement in the remarks box:

“The origin of these goods was determined using the non-preferential rules of origin published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency.”

Please note that even with this statement, CBP may still not accept UK Certificates of Origin as proof of origin. However, including it may assist in the documentation process.

You can find a copy of the relevant CBP rules on our website. The non-preferential rules are outlined on pages 8–11 and closely align with UK rules. Exporters must ensure that their goods comply with U.S. rules before adding this statement.

We will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as new information becomes available.