Rules of origin and preference
Origin determines whether a preferential duty rate is available and what evidence supports the claim. It is assessed on the product's inputs and processing, not on where it was shipped from.
This service is delivered by TCSA, subject to confirmation of scope, location and availability.
What this covers
Exporters claiming preference under a trade agreement, importers verifying that a supplier's origin statement is supportable, and businesses whose supply chains have changed enough to affect origin.
Origin assessment
Testing the product against the specific rule for its heading under the agreement you intend to use.
Supplier evidence
What suppliers need to provide, and how to review statements that are vague or unsupported.
Preference claims
The statement, certification or declaration required, and who is responsible for issuing it.
Change monitoring
Re-testing origin when sourcing, processing or the agreement itself changes.
Who performs the work: TCSA delivers origin assessments directly and documents the rule applied and the evidence relied on.
Limits: Origin is assessed against the rules of the agreement concerned. We do not certify origin and cannot issue origin statements on a trader's behalf.
How membership and accreditation differInformation to have ready
None of this is required to send an enquiry. It helps us confirm the appropriate route and the scope faster.
- Product and its commodity code
- Materials and components, with their own origin
- Processing carried out and where
- The agreement or preference you intend to claim
- Supplier declarations available
- Markets of import
What happens next
The same four steps apply whatever the service. Timings are agreed with you rather than promised up front.
- 01
Product and inputs
You provide the bill of materials and the processing steps.
- 02
Rule testing
The product is tested against the applicable rule, including any tolerance or insufficient-processing tests.
- 03
Evidence
The supplier declarations and records needed to support the claim are identified.
- 04
Statement
We set out what the claim requires and who must make it.
What affects the price
Charges depend on the number of products, the depth of the bill of materials and the number of agreements to be tested. Complex multi-stage products are quoted after a scoping review.
Submitting the enquiry is free. The service itself is quoted before any work begins.
TCSA sets the rates for the work it delivers itself.
Where this is available
Origin assessments are delivered across all eight TCSA markets, against the agreements relevant to the trade lane.
Availability on a specific lane, site or regime is confirmed during review.
Who handles the work
Assessments apply the product-specific rules, the tolerance provisions and the insufficient-processing tests, and the conclusion is recorded with the evidence behind it.
Membership of TCSA is not a statutory licence, and neither membership nor accreditation guarantees the performance of any provider. Scope and charges are agreed with you before work begins.
Questions about this service
Related services
Tariff classification
Classification determines the duty rate, the controls and the origin rules that apply to a product. Getting it wrong is one of the most common sources of post-clearance demand, and one of the easiest to put right.
Customs valuation
Duty is charged on the customs value of the goods, which is not always the invoice price. Royalties, assists, freight, insurance and related-party transactions all affect the figure and are frequently handled incorrectly.
Export controls and sanctions screening
Export controls restrict what may be sent to whom, and for what end use. Sanctions add restrictions on parties, sectors and destinations. Both apply to intangible transfers as well as physical shipments, and both change frequently.
The process
How an enquiry works
Find customs, freight and trade services through TCSA. Tell us what you need and we will review your enquiry, connect you with suitable member providers, or confirm whether TCSA can deliver the service directly. Submitting an enquiry does not book work or accept a quotation, and does not guarantee that a provider is available.
- 01
Choose a service and tell us what you need
Pick the service that fits and describe the requirement. It takes a couple of minutes.
- 02
TCSA reviews the requirement
We confirm the appropriate next step: a member provider, a TCSA-delivered service, or a managed sourcing process.
- 03
The agreed route responds
Suitable member providers or the TCSA team respond according to the route you agreed to.
- 04
You decide whether to proceed
Review the scope, the provider and the pricing before committing to anything.
Membership
What members get on services
You do not need to be a member to enquire. Membership changes the rate you pay and the way opportunities are routed to you as a provider.
For buyers
- Preferential rates on eligible services, confirmed with your quotation.
- Eligibility checked against your membership record, not a self-declaration.
- One enquiry route covering customs, freight, compliance and inspections.
For member providers
- Enquiries matched to your stated services, countries and language capability.
- Only enquiries you are assigned to are visible to you, in the Member Portal.
- Your details are shared only where the customer has permitted it.
Buying a service has no bearing on accreditation. Accreditation is assessed separately against published criteria.