| North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) | | | | overseas temporarily and left Customs control or |
| established a free-trade zone in North America, | | | | something was done to the product other than |
| taking effect in 1994 by Canada, Mexico, and the | | | | unloading, reloading or preservation. |
| United States. NAFTA eliminates tariffs on the | | | | These are general rules; if you are unsure of your |
| majority of goods produced by these participating | | | | NAFTA eligibility, ask! |
| nations. It is an investment to the movement of | | | | NAFTA Certificates |
| goods and services among the three countries. | | | | In order to present a claim for reimbursement on |
| Merely purchasing a product in a NAFTA country | | | | goods within the scope of NAFTA, the importer |
| does NOT automatically make it NAFTA-eligible. | | | | must submit a NAFTA Certificate of Origin. CBP's |
| Here are a few general "rules of thumb" for | | | | website states, "The Certificate of Origin must be |
| determining if you should claim NAFTA or not to | | | | completed by the exporter. A producer or |
| receive a refund. | | | | manufacturer may also complete a certificate of |
| Not claim NAFTA if… | | | | origin in a NAFTA territory to be used as a basis |
| You do not know the background of the product. | | | | for an Exporter's Certificate of Origin. To make a |
| Such as: who produced it, where it was grown or | | | | claim for NAFTA preference, the importer must |
| was taken from the ground, where the | | | | possess a certificate of origin at the time the |
| components or ingredients were manufactured or | | | | claim is made." If the NAFTA Certificate of Origin |
| grown. | | | | is not ready at time of export, you have one |
| The good was produced overseas and simply | | | | year from the date of importation to claim a |
| passed through North America. | | | | refund. |
| Your good qualified for NAFTA but was sent | | | | |