Free Trade Agreement

Certificate of Origin: Preferential vs Non-Preferential, and Why the Difference Matters

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Hands stamping an official export document with a red seal, a globe in the background, representing certificate of origin documentation

For the official rules, see the U.S. Department of Commerce rules of origin overview, and our related guide on trade compliance basics. Certificate of origin preferential status is what actually unlocks a reduced or zero tariff rate under a free trade agreement — without it, customs treats the exact same shipment as fully dutiable. An … Read more

Free Trade Agreement Qualification: How to Check If Your Product Counts

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Hands holding a blank certificate of origin document with a gold wax seal, world trade map and cargo ship in the background

Understanding free trade agreement qualification is one of the most valuable skills an exporter can develop, since qualifying correctly can eliminate duty entirely, while getting it wrong can trigger penalties, denied preferential treatment, and unexpected costs long after a shipment has already cleared. A lot of exporters assume that if their country has a free … Read more