The CCC is your source for Certificates of Origin
Did you know that chambers of commerce are the only source for Certificates of Origin (CO)? A Certificate of Origin is an international trade document that verifies the country or state where a product was manufactured or last underwent a substantial change or modification. Certificates of origin are required by many foreign governments for official, commercial and financial reasons.

The type of goods being exported and its destination determine if a CO is required. Most countries consider where foreign goods come from when determining what tariffs will be assessed or if the good can legally be imported at all. Some nations restrict imports from certain countries and many limit the quantity of goods allowed to be imported or give preference to items manufactured in the United States. The US has many trade agreements under which American goods receive lower tariff rates. The foreign customs office uses a Certificate of Origin to verify that the items being shipped qualify for these preferential rates.

A Certificate of Origin must be signed by the exporter, notarized and then be signed by a locally designated agency, such as the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, in order to be valid. Through world trade agreements on an international level, it has been determined and agreed upon that local chambers of commerce are reputable and are in the best position to know the local companies and their product lines.

The CCC is pleased to provide Certificates of Origin to members free of charge as a benefit of membership. Non-members pay an administrative fee of $100 per certificate, which covers the CCC’s due diligence. For most companies, the cost of just a few certificates exceeds the amount of the Chamber’s annual dues. For non-members who do a lot of exporting, it makes sense to join the CCC and get the Certificate of Origin for free, plus all the other benefits of membership.

Certificates of Origin are stamped during regular office hours. Please call the Chamber office at (617) 876-4100 before coming in to have your certificate processed, as only designated staff handle this. The Chamber staff reserves the right of refusal for any document that does not meet our guidelines.

The rules for when a CO is needed change often. Be sure to verify the current criteria before preparing your shipment. Many countries in developing regions, especially in the Middle East, have their own procedures and may require special documents. Also if food products or items requiring a Certificate of Sanitation are being shipped, additional paperwork may be required. It is the exporter’s responsibility to research the regulations in the country of destination and obtain the appropriate documents. The Trade Information Center at www.export.gov provides helpful information on exporting goods to foreign countries.

 If you know of companies that need origin documents, or you are in need of this service, please contact the CCC at (617) 876-4100 for more information.