Certificate of origin and preferential origin proofs (EUR.1, A.TR, Form A)
A document showing the country in which goods were produced or obtained, usually certified by a chamber of commerce. Non-preferential certificates serve anti-dumping, quota and import-ban rules; preferential proofs give reduced or zero duty under free trade agreements – the A.TR movement certificate for industrial goods between the EU and Türkiye, EUR.1 or an origin declaration on the invoice where origin rules are met, Form D in ASEAN, Form E under China’s agreements, and so on. Origin rules vary by product, and false documents bring large duty differences and penalties.
Related terms
HS code (Harmonized System)
The World Customs Organization’s goods classification system, used in about 200 countries. The first six digits are the same everywhere (e.g. 3902.10 polypropylene); countries add their own subdivisions – 12-digit GTİP in Türkiye, 8-digit CN and 10-digit TARIC in the EU, 10-digit HTS in the USA. The correct code determines the duty rate, import licences, anti-dumping measures, preferential origin rules and trade statistics. Misclassification can lead to back duties and penalties; where unsure, a binding tariff information (BTI) ruling can be requested.
Anti-dumping and countervailing duty AD
An extra duty a country imposes on imports sold below the exporter’s home-market price (dumping) or supported by state subsidies, where these injure domestic producers. After an investigation, rates are set for specific origin countries and even individual companies; they are very common for raw materials such as steel, aluminium, PET, PVC, chemicals and fibres. Rates can exceed 100 %, so measures in force for the HS code and origin must always be checked when planning imports, and misdeclaring origin through transshipment brings severe penalties.
Commercial invoice
The final sales document issued by the seller after shipment, stating the description of goods, HS code, quantity, unit and total price, Incoterm, payment terms, origin and the parties’ details. It is the basis for customs valuation, duties and letter-of-credit payment; under a credit the description of goods must match the credit exactly. Unlike a proforma invoice, it records the actual sale and the amount due.
Explained in the trade handbook
More in Customs, tax & compliance
- Bonded warehouse
- Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
- Customs broker
- Customs valuation (transaction value)
- Dual-use goods and export controls
- Export declaration
- Import duty (customs tariff)
- Inward processing relief (IPR)
- Know your customer / know your business (KYC / KYB)
- Packing list (P/L)
- Sanctions and export-control screening
- VAT (value added tax) on imports and exports