Knowing how to obtain a NAFTA certificate will allow a person to be within their legal regulations.
Trade has existed between the United States, Mexico, and Canada since time immemorial, but NAFTA sanctions render trade easier and free of tariffs. Of course, this simplicity and freedom from taxation requires proof that such trade is purely between North American countries. Once it is verified that this is the case, those involved in the transaction receive a Certificate of Origin. One can obtain this Certificate of Origin by fulfilling certain requirements after following a series of steps. These steps are as follows.
Steps to Receiving a Certificate of Origin
- Review Federal Form 434 to ensure that the products to be exported comply with NAFTA’s rules of origin.
- Compile the tax identification numbers and shipping address of the producer, exporter, and importer (this is their Social Security number, Individual Taxpayer Number, or Employer Identification number in the United States; the Employer Number assigned by the Customs Revenue Agency in Canada; and the Federal Taxpayer’s Registry number in Mexico).
- Obtain a Harmonized System classification number using the Schedule B search engine on the Census Bureau website or by contacting the U.S. Census Bureau for Foreign Trade.
- Determine the Preference Criterion of the goods (referenced as A-F).
- Fill out the Certificate of Origin.
Once this certificate is obtained, a Certificate of Origin marker is sent to the exporter, who can thus indicate to each country’s respective Customs agency the eligibility of the goods as well as the goods’ preference criterion. Not only does this save time as well as money by eliminating all restrictions and tariffs, it also expedites the process through which exporters must endure in order for merchants to ship the products throughout North America.