Learning how to get a NAFTA certificate of origin helps those who are interested in becoming a part of the agreement.

Legal Issues with NAFTA

A NAFTA Certificate of Origin is not required to ship products between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but one is required in order to benefit from the agreement’s sanctions. If one is interested in obtaining this certificate, they are to follow these steps:

• Ensure that the product(s) to be exported comply with NAFTA’s rules of origin (NAFTA eligibility and rules of origin compliance can be determined using Federal Form 434 or by visiting www.export.gov).
• Obtain the exporter’s tax identification number* and shipping address
• Obtain the producer’s tax identification number* and shipping address
• Obtain the importer’s tax identification number* and shipping address
• Obtain a Harmonized System (HS) classification number (an exporter can use the Schedule B Search Engine compliments of the Census Bureau in order to find a product’s classification – one could also contact the U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Division at (301)763.3259 for durable goods or (301)763.3484 for non-durable goods)
• Determine the preference criterion of the goods (see below for more details)
• Fill out of the Certificate of Origin distributed by the Department of Homeland Security in the United States.

In the United States, a tax identification number can be the same as a social security number, though not always; in Canada, it is the employer number assigned by the Customs and Revenue Agency; and in Mexico, it is the federal taxpayer’s registry number.

Preference Criterion

The preference criterion of a product is determined by the degree to which the product complies with NAFTA qualifiers for preferential treatment and is designated by letters A-F. Each of these classifications and answers to NAFTA questions can be found below:

• A – Refers to product obtained or produced entirely within North America with all North American materials.
• B – Refers to a product containing non-NAFTA materials, but still satisfy determinants set by the rules of origin.
• C – Refers to a product that was produced entirely within North America using NAFTA-compliant materials.
• D – Refers to a product that satisfies only regional value content requirements.
• E – Refers to products specifically specified in Annex 308.1 of NAFTA.
• F – Applies exclusively to certain agricultural products shipped to Mexico as specified in Annex 308.1 of NAFTA.