CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC/ Certification Requirements

Last Updated: March 10, 2026

T​​he Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC), also known as the new NAFTA, addresses trade between Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

The implementation of CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC changed what businesses need to provide when claiming preferential tariff treatment. There is no longer a standardized certificate of origin form. Instead, the certification must contain the minimum data elements set out in Annex 5-A of Chapter 5. The certification can appear on an invoice or another document, provided it contains the required information, as explained in the official CUSMA Chapter 5 origin procedures.

What is CUSMA/USMAC/T-MEC?

The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is a trade agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico. It came into effect on July 1, 2020, replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

In the U.S., the agreement is referred to as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and in Mexico it is referred to as Tratado entre México, Estados Unidos y Canadá (T-MEC).

What is needed to claim preferential treatment under CUSMA/USMAC/T-MEC?

A Canadian, U.S., or Mexican importer can claim preferential tariff treatment based on a Certification of Origin completed by the importer, exporter, or producer of the good. The Canadian government’s CUSMA implementation guidance confirms that an importer can base its claim on a certification completed by any of these parties.

There is no prescribed format for the certification. It can appear on an invoice or another document, provided it contains the minimum data elements and describes the originating good in sufficient detail to identify it.

A certification can cover either a single shipment or multiple shipments of identical goods during a specified period of up to 12 months. CUSMA also allows certifications to be completed and submitted electronically, including with an electronic or digital signature, under Article 5.2 of the agreement.

What are the CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC certification requirements and data elements?

The Certification of Origin must contain the minimum data elements set out in Annex 5-A of Chapter 5 of CUSMA. The official Annex 5-A identifies the information required to support the certification.

1. Importer, Exporter, or Producer – Certification of Origin: Indicate whether the certifier is the importer, exporter, or producer.
2. Certifier: Provide the certifier’s name, title, address, country, telephone number, and email address.
3. Exporter: If different from the certifier, provide the exporter’s name, address, country, email address, and telephone number. This information is not required if the producer completes the certification and does not know the exporter’s identity.
4. Producer: If different from the certifier or exporter, provide the producer’s name, address, country, email address, and telephone number. If there are multiple producers, state “Various” or provide a list. A producer that wants to keep this information confidential may state “Available upon request by the importing authorities.”
5. Importer: If known, provide the importer’s name, address, email address, and telephone number.
6. Description and Harmonized System (HS) Tariff Classification of the Good: Describe the good sufficiently to identify it and provide its six-digit HS tariff classification. For a single shipment, include the invoice number related to the exportation if known.
7. Origin Criteria: Specify the origin criterion under which the good qualifies as originating under Article 4.2 of Chapter 4.
8. Blanket Period: If the certification covers multiple shipments of identical goods, include the period. The period can cover up to 12 months.
9. Authorized Signature and Date: The certification must be signed and dated by the certifier and include the required certification statement.

What does an exporter need to certify the origin of the good?

An exporter that is not the producer of the good can complete the certification based on either:

1. Information, including documents, demonstrating that the good is originating; or
2. Reasonable reliance on the producer’s written representation that the good is originating.

These requirements come directly from Article 5.3 of the CUSMA origin procedures.

What does a producer or importer need to certify the origin of the good?

If a producer certifies the origin of the good, the producer must have information, including documents, demonstrating that the good is originating.

An importer can also complete the certification, but the importer must have information, including documents, demonstrating that the good is originating, as specified in Article 5.3.

The certification can be completed in English, French, or Spanish.

When is a Certification of Origin not required?

The requirements can differ depending on where the importer claims preferential tariff treatment.

For imports into Canada, CBSA states that certain commercial goods with a value for duty of CAD $3,300 or less are exempt from the certification/proof-of-origin requirement when preferential CUSMA treatment is claimed, subject to applicable conditions. The CBSA guidance on CUSMA low-value shipments provides the current threshold and requirements.

This CAD $3,300 threshold should not be presented as a general certification exemption for imports into the United States or Mexico.

Keep Supporting Records

A certification of origin does not by itself establish that a good qualifies for preferential treatment. The certifier needs supporting information and documentation demonstrating that the good is originating.

CUSMA requires importers claiming preferential tariff treatment to maintain relevant records for at least five years from the date of importation. Exporters and producers that complete a certification must also maintain the records necessary to demonstrate that the good qualifies as originating for five years after completing the certification. These requirements appear in Article 5.8 of the CUSMA origin procedures.

Supporting records can include invoices, bills of lading, customs documents, production records, and other information demonstrating that the goods qualify as originating.

To help our customers certify their imported goods under the CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC, we have created a certificate that meets all the required data elements. You can download this certificate from our Trade Forms page. Or you can book a meeting with GHY to discuss your certification and customs requirements with a trade specialist.