In plain words
The country of origin is where the goods were produced, or where they were last changed enough to become a new product. It is not always the country they were shipped from. Customs needs the origin to apply the right duties, quotas, and other trade measures.
There are two main kinds. A general (non-preferential) certificate of origin only proves the origin; in Turkey, chambers of commerce and industry issue it. A preferential origin document, such as the EUR.1, can also lower or remove import duty under a trade agreement. Ask your buyer which document the importing country needs before you ship.
Example from real shipping
A Turkish producer exports kitchen appliances to a buyer in the Gulf region. The buyer's customs asks for proof of origin. The producer applies to its local chamber of commerce, which checks the documents and issues a certificate of origin for “Turkey”. The producer sends it with the commercial invoice.
Related terms
- EUR.1EUR.1 is a certificate of preferential origin. It can lower or remove import duty when goods move between countries that have a free trade agreement.
- A.TRA.TR is a movement certificate for trade between Turkey and the EU. It shows that the goods are in free circulation, so they can move without customs duty under the EU–Turkey customs union.
- Commercial InvoiceA commercial invoice is the seller's bill to the buyer for the goods. Customs uses it to see what the goods are and how much they cost.
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Request a QuoteThis glossary is general information, not legal or customs advice. Rules, fees, and practice can differ by carrier, port, and country.