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Free FTA Tool

USMCA Origin Checker
& FTA Qualification Tool

Verify if your goods from Canada or Mexico qualify for USMCA preferential duty rates — and ensure your Certificate of Origin meets all CBP requirements before your shipment ships.

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2 free analyses included · No credit card required

USMCA Can Eliminate Your Import Duties Entirely

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaced NAFTA in July 2020, allows qualifying goods from Canada and Mexico to enter the United States at preferential duty rates — often 0%. For importers sourcing from North America, USMCA qualification can mean the difference between paying substantial duties and paying nothing at all.

However, claiming USMCA preference requires strict compliance with rules of origin requirements. Importers who claim preferential rates without proper documentation face retroactive duty assessments, interest charges, and penalties from CBP. Getting it right matters.

Without USMCA
$4,750
Example: $25,000 automotive parts shipment from Mexico at 19% MFN duty rate
With USMCA
$0
Same shipment qualifying under USMCA rules of origin — $4,750 in duties saved on a single shipment

What Your USMCA Certification Must Include

Unlike NAFTA which required a specific CBP Form 434, USMCA allows a flexible certification of origin — any written or electronic document containing the required data elements. However, all required elements must be present or CBP will deny your preferential claim.

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Certifier Information
Name, title, company, address, phone, and email of the person certifying origin — whether importer, exporter, or producer.
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Exporter Information
Name, address, and email of the exporter if different from the certifier. Required even if the producer is certifying.
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Producer Information
Name, address, and email of the producer. If unknown, state "Various" or provide a list. Confidentiality can be requested.
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Importer Information
Name, address, and email of the importer in the U.S. If unknown at time of certification, state "Various" or "Unknown."
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Good Description & HTS
Detailed description of each good, the 6-digit HTS number, and the invoice number(s) associated with the certification.
Origin Criterion
The specific USMCA rule under which the good qualifies — Wholly Obtained (A), Tariff Change (B), Regional Value Content (C), or Combination (D).

How USMCA Rules of Origin Work

To qualify for USMCA preferential rates, goods must meet one of these origin criteria. The applicable test depends on the specific HTS code of the product:

A
Wholly Obtained or Produced
The good is entirely grown, harvested, extracted, or produced within USMCA territory with no non-originating materials. Applies to natural resources, agricultural products, and certain manufactured goods.
Example: Wheat grown in Canada, crude oil extracted in Mexico, fish caught in U.S. territorial waters.
B
Tariff Classification Change
The good undergoes a specified change in HTS tariff classification as a result of production within USMCA territory. The specific required tariff shift varies by HTS code and is defined in USMCA Annex 4-B.
Example: Non-originating fabric (HTS 52) transformed into originating apparel (HTS 62) through cutting and sewing in Mexico.
C
Regional Value Content (RVC)
A minimum percentage of the good's value must be from USMCA countries. Calculated using either the Transaction Value method or the Net Cost method, with minimum thresholds typically ranging from 60-75% depending on the product and method used.
Example: Automotive parts with 75%+ RVC using the Net Cost method qualify as USMCA originating goods.
D
Combination of Tests
Some HTS codes allow qualification through a combination of tariff shift plus RVC requirements, or through specific manufacturing or processing operations defined in the USMCA Product-Specific Rules of Origin.
Example: Steel products may require both a tariff classification change AND minimum RVC of 70% to qualify.

Check Your USMCA Qualification in 3 Steps

01

Upload Your Invoice

Upload your commercial invoice from your Canadian or Mexican supplier. Our system reads HTS codes, values, and origin information automatically.

02

AI Checks USMCA Rules

Each product is evaluated against USMCA rules of origin. We check origin criteria, certification requirements, and flag any compliance issues.

03

Get Your Compliance Report

Receive a complete USMCA compliance assessment — qualification status, documentation requirements, and potential duty savings calculation.

Check My Import Compliance Free →
2 free analyses · No credit card needed

USMCA Origin Checker FAQ

USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) replaced NAFTA on July 1, 2020. It allows qualifying goods originating in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico to receive preferential — often zero — duty rates when traded between the three countries. To claim USMCA preference, importers must have a valid USMCA certification of origin and the goods must meet applicable rules of origin requirements.
A USMCA Certificate of Origin is documentation certifying that goods meet USMCA rules of origin. Unlike NAFTA, USMCA does not require a specific CBP form — any document containing the 9 required data elements is acceptable. The certification can be made by the importer, exporter, or producer and must be available for CBP review for 5 years from the date of importation.
If CBP determines your USMCA claim is incorrect, you will owe the full MFN duty rate on the affected entries plus interest from the date of entry. You may also face penalties for negligence or fraud depending on the circumstances. CBP conducts post-entry audits of USMCA claims and has authority to recover duties retroactively for up to 5 years.
No — a USMCA certification can cover a single shipment or multiple shipments of identical goods over a period of up to 12 months (a "blanket certification"). For low-value shipments under $1,000 (U.S.) or $2,500 (Canada), USMCA preference can be claimed without a certification. However, CBP can request documentation to support the claim even for low-value shipments.
USMCA introduced several key changes from NAFTA: higher automotive regional value content requirements (75% vs 62.5%); new labor value content rules for automotive; stricter rules of origin for steel and aluminum; expanded digital trade provisions; stronger IP protections; and the elimination of the specific NAFTA Certificate of Origin form in favor of flexible certification. Many product-specific rules of origin were also updated or tightened.

Verify Your USMCA Qualification Before You Import

Upload your commercial invoice and get an instant USMCA compliance assessment — qualification status, certification requirements, and estimated duty savings.

Check My Import Compliance Free →
2 free analyses · No credit card required · Results in seconds

More Free Import Compliance Tools: Use our free import duty calculator to estimate MFN duties if USMCA doesn't apply, our HTS code checker to validate your classifications, or our landed cost calculator to compare total costs with and without USMCA preference.

More Free Import Compliance Tools