The CUSMA certification of origin (USMCA in the United States) has no official form. It is a statement containing nine minimum data elements, signed by the exporter, the producer or the importer, and it can be written on the commercial invoice or any other document. It lets you claim preferential treatment for goods that meet the agreement’s rules of origin. It does not make a product qualify: an item made outside North America and resold from Canada does not. Rules and tariffs change often, so confirm with a customs broker before you ship.
What is the CUSMA certification of origin?
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) has been in force since July 1, 2020, replacing NAFTA. For a Canadian good to enter the United States with the agreement’s preferential tariff treatment, two things are needed: the product has to meet the rules of origin, and a certification of origin has to support the claim.
Unlike the old NAFTA certificate (CBSA Form B232), there is no prescribed form anymore. According to the CBSA, the B232 is only valid for goods released before July 1, 2021. That is why a search for "CUSMA form" usually turns up templates: they are handy, but what matters is the data elements, not the layout.
Who can complete and sign it
The certification can be completed by the exporter, the producer or the importer of the goods. It can sit on an invoice or any other document, and it can be submitted electronically, with an electronic or digital signature.
- You make the product: you are the producer and often the exporter. You are best placed to certify.
- You resell a North American manufacturer’s product: ask them for their certification, or the information you need, before certifying yourself.
- Your US customer is the importer: they can certify, but they will need your origin information to do it.
The 9 minimum data elements
Annex 5-A of CUSMA Chapter 5 sets the elements every certification must contain. Here is what each one asks for, according to the CBSA.
| # | Element | What to enter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certifier role | Exporter, producer or importer |
| 2 | Certifier | Name, title, address (including country), phone and email |
| 3 | Exporter | Contact details, if different from the certifier |
| 4 | Producer | Contact details and the address of the place of production, if different from the certifier |
| 5 | Importer | Contact details, if known |
| 6 | Description and classification | Product description and 6-digit HS code |
| 7 | Origin criterion | The letter matching Article 4.2 of the agreement |
| 8 | Blanket period | If the certification covers multiple shipments of identical goods: 12 months maximum |
| 9 | Signature and date | Authorized signature, date and certifying statement |
The origin criterion is the element most often misunderstood. In short: A for a good wholly obtained or produced in the region, B for a good made only from originating materials, C for a good made with non-originating materials that meets the product-specific rule for its HS code. Criterion D covers narrower cases: have a broker confirm it before you use it.
This guide summarizes the rules; it is not customs advice. Rules of origin depend on each product’s HS code, and an inaccurate certification can lead to denied preferential treatment and duties owed after the fact. Have a customs broker review your first files.
When is a certification required?
To claim preferential treatment, a certification is the rule. There are low-value exemptions, though, and they are not the same in each direction across the border.
| Direction | No certification required if | What still applies |
|---|---|---|
| Canada to United States | Non-commercial importation, or a commercial importation where the value of the originating goods does not exceed US$2,500 (19 CFR 182.14) | CBP can require the certification if shipments look split up to avoid the rule |
| United States or Mexico to Canada | Commercial importation with an estimated value for duty of CA$3,300 or less (CBSA) | The importer must keep records that prove origin |
Careful: an exemption from certification is not an exemption from duty or paperwork. Since the US de minimis exemption was suspended, commercial shipments into the United States go through a customs entry at any value. A proper certification remains the way to claim CUSMA eligibility. According to the CBSA, a certification is valid for four years after it is signed, and Canadian importers must keep their proof of origin for six years.
CUSMA and US tariffs: what compliance changes
Since 2025, CUSMA compliance has mattered far more to Canadian exporters, because some US tariff measures exempt qualifying goods. Not all of them do. According to the Trade Commissioner Service, compliant goods are still exposed to certain Section 232 tariffs (steel, aluminum, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, among others) and to Section 338 tariffs.
These measures have changed several times and can change again. Before you ship, check the Trade Commissioner Service page on CUSMA compliance, which is updated regularly, and confirm how your HS code is treated with a broker. The service also offers free support to exporters.
Adding the certification to a courier shipment
- Write the certification on the commercial invoice or attach it to the same file: that is what the carrier and its broker pass to CBP.
- Describe each product precisely with the right HS code: the invoice and certification descriptions should match.
- Enter the product’s real country of origin, not the country it ships from. An item made in Asia and shipped from Montreal is not CUSMA-originating.
- For regular shipments of the same products, a 12-month blanket certification saves you from issuing a new one for every parcel.
- Keep a copy of the certification and your proof of origin (cost sheets, material invoices): that is what you will be asked for in a verification.
The certification is your document, whichever carrier you use. What changes from one carrier to another is the price of the lane to the United States and the brokerage fees. MesColis shows rates from the carriers that serve your cross-border lane side by side, for the same parcel: none is always the cheapest, so compare the total before you buy the label.