A Certificate of Origin (COO) is a document that states where goods were produced or manufactured. It can be used to support origin claims in trade arrangements and may be requested for certain products or destinations.

What a COO is used for

• supporting origin claims in trade and documentation workflows
• meeting destination requirements for certain goods
• supporting eligibility for tariff treatment where applicable

When it’s commonly requested

• when a buyer, bank, or destination authority requires proof of origin
• when a trade agreement requires origin evidence for tariff treatment
• when goods categories have origin-based rules or restrictions

Common mistakes

• COO details don’t match the invoice (names, descriptions, quantities)
• late preparation that delays document completion
• origin details are unclear or inconsistent across documents

Quick checklist

• match descriptions and quantities to the commercial invoice
• use consistent shipper/consignee legal names
• prepare early if the destination or buyer requires it