The certificate of origin is a document certifying the place where the under lying goods are manufactured, and is the certificate of "original domicile" of the goods in international trade. In specific situations, the importing country levies different customs duties on cargos according to their certificates of origin.
The certificates of origin issued in China for export cargos include:
(I) Non-preferential certificates of origin
The certificate of origin of the People's Republic of China what is usually called "ordinary certificate of origin" ("CO"). This certificate is the one issued for the goods to be exported from China according to the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Place of Origin of Import and Export Goods. For the goods that are just simply processed and/or assembled in China and whose places of origin are not qualified to be deemed as China, customers can apply for the processing and assembly certificate. For the goods that only transit China and are not processed in any way, the entrepot certificate can be applied.
(II) Preferential certificates of origin
1. generalized system of preferences ("GSP") certificate of origin
2. Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (formerly known as the "Bangkok Agreement") certificate of origin (Form B)
3. China-ASEAN Free Trade Area ("CAFTA") certificate of origin (Form E)
4. China-Pakistan Free Trade Area (China and Pakistan Preferential Trade Arrangements) certificate of origin (Form P)
5. China-Chile Free Trade Area certificate of origin (Form F)
6. China-New Zealand Free Trade Area certificate of origin (Form F)
7. China-Singapore Free Trade Area certificate of origin (Form X)
8. China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement certificate of origin
(III) Special certificate of origin
The special certificate of origin is the certificate of origin that an international organization or a country grants to specific products in a specific industry according to the needs of governance and trade measures. The products listed in a special certificate of origin are specific products in a specific industry and shall be subject to specific rules on the place of origin. The references to the issuance of special certificates of origin are the bilateral agreements or regulations signed by and between the Chinese government and foreign governments.