A Certificate of Origin (CO) is a document that specifies where the goods you are shipping were grown, manufactured, or produced. This document is crucial because it confirms that the goods meet the origin requirements to enter a country or territory. It also helps determine if the goods are eligible for reduced or waived duties under trade agreements such as the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) or Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The certificate of Origin is often required by customs authorities to determine duties and tariffs. For instance, if you are importing products to the Philippines, having a Certificate of Origin is one of the mandatory requirements to get customs clearance.