NAFTA regulates trade of the goods the United States, Canada and Mexico produce. A Certificate of Origin certifies the United States produced the goods.
Good from United States
A good that came from the U. S. satisfies the content requirement for the certificate. These goods include domestic extracted minerals, harvested plants, livestock and fish from the sea.
U. S. Produced
A good produced entirely in the U. S. can satisfy the criteria for U. S. content. The producer might have to state a tariff classification change, a regional value content, or both.
Tariff Classification Change
The tariff classification changes when, after production, the produced good falls into a different tariff category or heading than the materials used for production. If the good and parts do not have separate divisions, the producer can still certify the good as produced entirely in the U. S..
Regional Value Content
The regional value content is the percentage of the good made from materials originating in the United States. The certifier uses either the transaction value method or the net cost method.
Produced from U. S. Material
When the producer uses only U. S. materials for production, the good originates from the U. S..
Sources: NAFTA Articles 401-15 and 501-14, and Annexes 401 and 403.3 at NAFTA Secretariat. NAFTA Certificate of Origin Form at U. S. Customs and Border Protection.
NAFTA Certificate of Origin Continuation Sheet.