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Consolidated TPP Text – Chapter 3 – Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures

Section A: Rules of Origin

Article 3.1: Definitions

For the purposes of this Chapter:

aquaculture means the farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, molluscs, crustaceans, other aquatic invertebrates and aquatic plants from seed stock such as eggs, fry, fingerlings or larvae, by intervention in the rearing or growth processes to enhance production such as regular stocking, feeding or protection from predators;

fungible goods or materials means goods or materials that are interchangeable for commercial purposes and whose properties are essentially identical;

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles means those principles recognised by consensus or with substantial authoritative support in the territory of a Party with respect to the recording of revenues, expenses, costs, assets and liabilities; the disclosure of information; and the preparation of financial statements. These principles may encompass broad guidelines for general application, as well as detailed standards, practices and procedures;

good means any merchandise, product, article or material;

indirect material means a material used in the production, testing or inspection of a good but not physically incorporated into the good; or a material used in the maintenance of buildings or the operation of equipment, associated with the production of a good, including:

material means a good that is used in the production of another good;

non-originating good or non-originating material means a good or material that does not qualify as originating in accordance with this Chapter;

originating good or originating material means a good or material that qualifies as originating in accordance with this Chapter;

packing materials and containers for shipment means goods used to protect another good during its transportation, but does not include the packaging materials or containers in which a good is packaged for retail sale;

producer means a person who engages in the production of a good;

production means operations including growing, cultivating, raising, mining, harvesting, fishing, trapping, hunting, capturing, collecting, breeding, extracting, aquaculture, gathering, manufacturing, processing or assembling a good;

transaction value means the price actually paid or payable for the good when sold for export or other value determined in accordance with the Customs Valuation Agreement; and

value of the good means the transaction value of the good excluding any costs incurred in the international shipment of the good.

Article 3.2: Originating Goods

Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, each Party shall provide that a good is originating if it is:

and the good satisfies all other applicable requirements of this Chapter.

Article 3.3: Wholly Obtained or Produced Goods

Each Party shall provide that for the purposes of Article 3.2 (Originating Goods), a good is wholly obtained or produced entirely in the territory of one or more of the Parties if it is:

Article 3.4: Treatment of Recovered Materials Used in Production of a Remanufactured Good

1. Each Party shall provide that a recovered material derived in the territory of one or more of the Parties is treated as originating when it is used in the production of, and incorporated into, a remanufactured good.

2. For greater certainty:

Article 3.5: Regional Value Content

1. Each Party shall provide that a regional value content requirement specified in this Chapter, including related Annexes, to determine whether a good is originating, is calculated as follows:

or

where:

RVC is the regional value content of a good, expressed as a percentage;

VNM is the value of non-originating materials, including materials of undetermined origin, used in the production of the good;

NC is the net cost of the good determined in accordance with Article 3.9 (Net Cost);

FVNM is the value of non-originating materials, including materials of undetermined origin, specified in the applicable product-specific-rule (PSR) in Annex 3-D (Product-Specific Rules of Origin) and used in the production of the good. For greater certainty, non-originating materials that are not specified in the applicable PSR in Annex 3-D (Product-Specific Rules of Origin) are not taken into account for the purpose of determining FVNM; and

VOM is the value of originating materials used in the production of the good in the territory of one or more of the Parties.

2. Each Party shall provide that all costs considered for the calculation of regional value content are recorded and maintained in conformity with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles applicable in the territory of a Party where the good is produced.

Article 3.6: Materials Used in Production

1. Each Party shall provide that if a non-originating material undergoes further production such that it satisfies the requirements of this Chapter, the material is treated as originating when determining the originating status of the subsequently produced good, regardless of whether that material was produced by the producer of the good.

2. Each Party shall provide that if a non-originating material is used in the production of a good, the following may be counted as originating content for the purpose of determining whether the good meets a regional value content requirement:

Article 3.7: Value of Materials Used in Production

Each Party shall provide that for the purposes of this Chapter, the value of a material is:

Article 3.8: Further Adjustments to the Value of Materials

1. Each Party shall provide that for an originating material, the following expenses may be added to the value of the material, if not included under Article 3.7 (Value of Materials Used in Production):

2. Each Party shall provide that, for a non-originating material or material of undetermined origin, the following expenses may be deducted from the value of the material:

3. If the cost or expense listed in paragraph 1 or 2 is unknown or documentary evidence of the amount of the adjustment is not available, then no adjustment is allowed for that particular cost.

Article 3.9: Net Cost

1. If Annex 3-D (Product-Specific Rules of Origin) specifies a regional value content requirement to determine whether an automotive good of subheading 8407.31 through 8407.34, 8408.20, subheading 8409.91 through 8409.99, heading 87.01 through 87.09 or heading 87.11 is originating, each Party shall provide that the requirement to determine the origin of that good based on the Net Cost Method is calculated as set out under Article 3.5 (Regional Value Content).

2. For the purposes of this Article:

3. Each Party shall provide that, for the purposes of the Net Cost Method for motor vehicles of heading 87.01 through 87.06 or heading 87.11, the calculation may be averaged over the producer’s fiscal year using any one of the following categories, on the basis of all motor vehicles in the category or only those motor vehicles in the category that are exported to the territory of another Party:

4. Each Party shall provide that, for the purposes of the Net Cost Method in paragraphs 1 and 2, for automotive materials of subheading 8407.31 through 8407.34, 8408.20, heading 84.09, 87.06, 87.07, or 87.08, produced in the same plant, a calculation may be averaged:

5. For the purposes of this Article:

Total cost does not include profits that are earned by the producer, regardless of whether they are retained by the producer or paid out to other persons as dividends, or taxes paid on those profits, including capital gains taxes.

Article 3.10: Accumulation

1. Each Party shall provide that a good is originating if the good is produced in the territory of one or more of the Parties by one or more producers, provided that the good satisfies the requirements in Article 3.2 (Originating Goods) and all other applicable requirements in this Chapter.

2. Each Party shall provide that an originating good or material of one or more of the Parties that is used in the production of another good in the territory of another Party is considered as originating in the territory of the other Party.

3. Each Party shall provide that production undertaken on a non-originating material in the territory of one or more of the Parties by one or more producers may contribute toward the originating content of a good for the purpose of determining its origin, regardless of whether that production was sufficient to confer originating status to the material itself.

Article 3.11: De Minimis

1. Except as provided in Annex 3-C (Exceptions to Article 3.11 (De Minimis)), each Party shall provide that a good that contains non-originating materials that do not satisfy the applicable change in tariff classification requirement specified in Annex 3-D (Product-Specific Rules of Origin) for the good is nonetheless an originating good if the value of all those materials does not exceed 10 per cent of the value of the good, as defined under Article 3.1 (Definitions), and the good meets all the other applicable requirements of this Chapter.

2. Paragraph 1 applies only when using a non-originating material in the production of another good.

3. If a good described in paragraph 1 is also subject to a regional value content requirement, the value of those non-originating materials shall be included in the value of non-originating materials for the applicable regional value content requirement.

4. With respect to a textile or apparel good, Article 4.2 (Rules of Origin and Related Matters) applies in place of paragraph 1.

Article 3.12: Fungible Goods or Materials

Each Party shall provide that a fungible good or material is treated as originating based on the:

(a) physical segregation of each fungible good or material; or

(b) use of any inventory management method recognised in the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles if the fungible good or material is commingled, provided that the inventory management method selected is used throughout the fiscal year of the person that selected the inventory management method.

Article 3.13: Accessories, Spare Parts, Tools and Instructional or Other Information Materials

1. Each Party shall provide that:

2. Each Party shall provide that a good’s accessories, spare parts, tools or instructional or other information materials, as described in paragraph 3, have the originating status of the good with which they are delivered.

3. For the purposes of this Article, accessories, spare parts, tools, and instructional or other information materials are covered when:

Article 3.14: Packaging Materials and Containers for Retail Sale

1. Each Party shall provide that packaging materials and containers in which a good is packaged for retail sale, if classified with the good, are disregarded in determining whether all the non-originating materials used in the production of the good have satisfied the applicable process or change in tariff classification requirement set out in Annex 3-D (Product-Specific Rules of Origin) or whether the good is wholly obtained or produced.

2. Each Party shall provide that if a good is subject to a regional value content requirement, the value of the packaging materials and containers in which the good is packaged for retail sale, if classified with the good, are taken into account as originating or non-originating, as the case may be, in calculating the regional value content of the good.

Article 3.15: Packing Materials and Containers for Shipment

Each Party shall provide that packing materials and containers for shipment are disregarded in determining whether a good is originating.

Article 3.16: Indirect materials

Each Party shall provide that an indirect material is considered to be originating without regard to where it is produced.

Article 3.17: Sets of Goods

1. Each Party shall provide that for a set classified as a result of the application of rule 3(a) or (b) of the General Rules for the Interpretation of the Harmonized System, the originating status of the set shall be determined in accordance with the product-specific rule of origin that applies to the set.

2. Each Party shall provide that for a set classified as a result of the application of rule 3(c) of the General Rules for the Interpretation of the Harmonized System, the set is originating only if each good in the set is originating and both the set and the goods meet the other applicable requirements of this Chapter.

3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, for a set classified as a result of the application of rule 3(c) of the General Rules for the Interpretation of the Harmonized System, the set is originating if the value of all the non-originating goods in the set does not exceed 10 per cent of the value of the set.

4. For the purposes of paragraph 3, the value of the non-originating goods in the set and the value of the set shall be calculated in the same manner as the value of non-originating materials and the value of the good.

Article 3.18: Transit and Transhipment

1. Each Party shall provide that an originating good retains its originating status if the good has been transported to the importing Party without passing through the territory of a non-Party.

2. Each Party shall provide that if an originating good is transported through the territory of one or more non-Parties, the good retains its originating status provided that the good:

Section B: Origin Procedures

Article 3.19: Application of Origin Procedures

Except as otherwise provided in Annex 3-A (Other Arrangements), each Party shall apply the procedures in this Section.

Article 3.20: Claims for Preferential Treatment

1. Except as otherwise provided in Annex 3-A (Other Arrangements), each Party shall provide that an importer may make a claim for preferential tariff treatment, based on a certification of origin completed by the exporter, producer or importer.Footnote 2, Footnote 3

2. An importing Party may:

3. Each Party shall provide that a certification of origin:

4. Each Party shall provide that a certification of origin may apply to:

5. Each Party shall provide that a certification of origin is valid for one year after the date that it was issued or for such longer period specified by the laws and regulations of the importing Party.

6. Each Party shall allow an importer to submit a certification of origin in English. If the certification of origin is not in English, the importing Party may require the importer to submit a translation in the language of the importing Party.

Article 3.21: Basis of a Certification of Origin

1. Each Party shall provide that if a producer certifies the origin of a good, the certification of origin is completed on the basis of the producer having information that the good is originating.

2. Each Party shall provide that if the exporter is not the producer of the good, a certification of origin may be completed by the exporter of the good on the basis of:

3. Each Party shall provide that a certification of origin may be completed by the importer of the good on the basis of:

4. For greater certainty, nothing in paragraph 1 or 2 shall be construed to allow a Party to require an exporter or producer to complete a certification of origin or provide a certification of origin to another person.

Article 3.22: Discrepancies

Each Party shall provide that it shall not reject a certification of origin due to minor errors or discrepancies in the certification of origin.

Article 3.23: Waiver of Certification of Origin

1. No Party shall require a certification of origin if:

Article 3.24: Obligations Relating to Importation

1. Except as otherwise provided for in this Chapter, each Party shall provide that, for the purpose of claiming preferential tariff treatment, the importer shall:

2. Each Party shall provide that, if the importer has reason to believe that the certification of origin is based on incorrect information that could affect the accuracy or validity of the certification of origin, the importer shall correct the importation document and pay any customs duty and, if applicable, penalties owed.

3. No importing Party shall subject an importer to a penalty for making an invalid claim for preferential tariff treatment if the importer, on becoming aware that such a claim is not valid and prior to discovery of the error by that Party, voluntarily corrects the claim and pays any applicable customs duty under the circumstances provided for in the Party’s law.

Article 3.25: Obligations Relating to Exportation

1. Each Party shall provide that an exporter or producer in its territory that completes a certification of origin shall submit a copy of that certification of origin to the exporting Party, on its request.

2. Each Party may provide that a false certification of origin or other false information provided by an exporter or a producer in its territory to support a claim that a good exported to the territory of another Party is originating has the same legal consequences, with appropriate modifications, as those that would apply to an importer in its territory that makes a false statement or representation in connection with an importation.

3. Each Party shall provide that if an exporter or a producer in its territory has provided a certification of origin and has reason to believe that it contains or is based on incorrect information, the exporter or producer shall promptly notify, in writing, every person and every Party to whom the exporter or producer provided the certification of origin of any change that could affect the accuracy or validity of the certification of origin.

Article 3.26: Record Keeping Requirements

1. Each Party shall provide that an importer claiming preferential tariff treatment for a good imported into the territory of that Party shall maintain, for a period of no less than five years from the date of importation of the good:

2. Each Party shall provide that a producer or exporter in its territory that provides a certification of origin shall maintain, for a period of no less than five years from the date the certification of origin was issued, all records necessary to demonstrate that a good for which the exporter or producer provided a certification of origin is originating. Each Party shall endeavour to make available information on types of records that may be used to demonstrate that a good is originating.

3. Each Party shall provide that an importer, exporter or producer in its territory may choose to maintain the records specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 in any medium that allows for prompt retrieval, including electronic, optical, magnetic or written form in accordance with that Party’s law.

Article 3.27: Verification of Origin

1. For the purpose of determining whether a good imported into its territory is originating, the importing Party may conduct a verification of any claim for preferential tariff treatment by one or more of the following:Footnote 5

2. If an importing Party conducts a verification, it shall accept information directly from the importer, exporter or producer.

3. If a claim for preferential tariff treatment is based on a certification of origin completed by the exporter or producer and, in response to a request for information by an importing Party under paragraph 1(a), the importer does not provide information to the importing Party or the information provided is not sufficient to support a claim for preferential tariff treatment, the importing Party shall request information from the exporter or producer under paragraph 1(b) or 1(c) before it may deny the claim for preferential tariff treatment. The importing Party shall complete the verification, including any additional request to the exporter or producer under paragraph 1(b) or 1(c), within the time provided in paragraph 6(e).Footnote 6

4. A written request for information or for a verification visit under paragraphs 1(a) through 1(c) shall:

5. If an importing Party has initiated a verification in accordance with paragraph 1(b) or 1(c), it shall inform the importer of the initiation of the verification.

6. For a verification under paragraphs 1(a) through 1(c), the importing Party shall:

7. If an importing Party makes a verification request under paragraph 1(b), it shall, on request of the Party where the exporter or producer is located and in accordance with the importing Party’s laws and regulations, inform that Party. The Parties concerned shall decide the manner and timing of informing the Party where the exporter or producer is located of the verification request. In addition, on request of the importing Party, the Party where the exporter or producer is located may, as it deems appropriate and in accordance with its laws and regulations, assist with the verification. This assistance may include providing a contact point for the verification, collecting information from the exporter or producer on behalf of the importing Party, or other activities in order that the importing Party may make a determination as to whether the good is originating. The importing Party shall not deny a claim for preferential tariff treatment solely on the ground that the Party where the exporter or producer is located did not provide requested assistance.

8. If an importing Party initiates a verification under paragraph 1(c), it shall, at the time of the request for the visit, inform the Party where the exporter or producer is located and provide the opportunity for the officials of the Party where the exporter or producer is located to accompany them during the visit.

9. Prior to issuing a written determination, the importing Party shall inform the importer and any exporter or producer that provided information directly to the importing Party, of the results of the verification and, if the importing Party intends to deny preferential tariff treatment, provide those persons a period of at least 30 days for the submission of additional information relating to the origin of the good.

10. The importing Party shall:

11. During verification, the importing Party shall allow the release of the good, subject to payment of duties or provision of security as provided for in its law. If as a result of the verification the importing Party determines that the good is an originating good, it shall grant preferential tariff treatment to the good and refund any excess duties paid or release any security provided, unless the security also covers other obligations.

12. If verifications of identical goods by a Party indicate a pattern of conduct by an importer, exporter or producer of false or unsupported representations relevant to a claim that a good imported into its territory qualifies as an originating good, the Party may withhold preferential tariff treatment to identical goods imported, exported or produced by that person until that person demonstrates that the identical goods qualify as originating. For the purposes of this paragraph, “identical goods” means goods that are the same in all respects relevant to the particular rule of origin that qualifies the goods as originating.

13. For the purpose of a verification request, it is sufficient for a Party to rely on the contact information of an exporter, producer or importer in a Party provided in a certification of origin.

Article 3.28: Determinations on Claims for Preferential Tariff Treatment

1. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph 2 or Article 4.7 (Determinations), each Party shall grant a claim for preferential tariff treatment made in accordance with this Chapter for a good that arrives in its territory on or after the date of entry into force of this Agreement for that Party. In addition, if permitted by the importing Party, the importing Party shall grant a claim for preferential tariff treatment made in accordance with this Chapter for a good which is imported into its territory or released from customs control on or after the date of entry into force of this Agreement for that Party.

2. The importing Party may deny a claim for preferential tariff treatment if: 

3. If an importing Party denies a claim for preferential tariff treatment, it shall issue a determination to the importer that includes the reasons for the determination.

4. A Party shall not reject a claim for preferential tariff treatment for the sole reason that the invoice was issued in a non-Party. If an invoice is issued in a non-Party, a Party shall require that the certification of origin be separate from the invoice.

Article 3.29: Refunds and Claims for Preferential Tariff Treatment after Importation

1. Each Party shall provide that an importer may apply for preferential tariff treatment and a refund of any excess duties paid for a good if the importer did not make a claim for preferential tariff treatment at the time of importation, provided that the good would have qualified for preferential tariff treatment when it was imported into the territory of the Party.

2. As a condition for preferential tariff treatment under paragraph 1, the importing Party may require that the importer:

no later than one year after the date of importation or a longer period if specified in the importing Party’s law.

Article 3.30: Penalties

A Party may establish or maintain appropriate penalties for violations of its laws and regulations related to this Chapter.

Article 3.31: Confidentiality

Each Party shall maintain the confidentiality of the information collected in accordance with this Chapter and shall protect that information from disclosure that could prejudice the competitive position of the person providing the information.

Section C: Other Matters

Article 3.32: Committee on Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures

1. The Parties hereby establish a Committee on Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures (Committee), composed of government representatives of each Party, to consider any matters arising under this Chapter.

2. The Committee shall consult regularly to ensure that this Chapter is administered effectively, uniformly and consistently with the spirit and objectives of this Agreement, and shall cooperate in the administration of this Chapter.

3. The Committee shall consult to discuss possible amendments or modifications to this Chapter and its Annexes, taking into account developments in technology, production processes or other related matters. 

4. Prior to the entry into force of an amended version of the Harmonized System, the Committee shall consult to prepare updates to this Chapter that are necessary to reflect changes to the Harmonized System. 

5. With respect to a textile or apparel good, Article 4.8 (Committee on Textile and Apparel Trade Matters) applies in place of this Article.

6. The Committee shall consult on the technical aspects of submission and the format of the electronic certification of origin.

Annex 3–A: Other Arrangements

1. This Annex shall remain in force for a period of 12 years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement according to Article 30.5.1 (Entry into Force). 

2. A Party may apply the arrangements under paragraph 5 only if it has notified the other Parties of its intention to apply those arrangements at the time of entry into force of this Agreement for that Party. That Party (the notifying Party) may apply these arrangements for a period not exceeding five years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement for that Party.

3. The notifying Party may extend the period under paragraph 2 for one additional period of no more than five years if it notifies the other Parties no later than 60 days prior to the expiration of the initial period.

4. In no case shall a Party apply the arrangements under paragraph 5 beyond 12 years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement according to Article 30.5.1 (Entry into Force).

5. An exporting Party may require that a certification of origin for a good exported from its territory be either:

6. If an exporting Party applies the arrangements under paragraph 5, it shall provide the requirements for those arrangements in publicly available laws or regulations, inform the other Parties at the time of the notification under paragraph 2, and inform the other Parties at least 90 days before any modification to the requirements comes into effect.

7. An importing Party may treat a certification of origin issued by a competent authority or completed by an approved exporter in the same manner as a certification of origin under Section B.

8. An importing Party may condition acceptance of a certification of origin issued by a competent authority or completed by an approved exporter on the authentication of elements such as stamps, signatures or approved exporter numbers. To facilitate that authentication, the Parties concerned shall exchange information on those elements.

9. If a claim for preferential tariff treatment is based on a certification of origin issued by a competent authority or completed by an approved exporter, the importing Party may make a verification request to the exporter or producer in accordance with Article 3.27 (Verification of Origin) or to the competent authority that issued the certification of origin.

10. If a Party makes a verification request to the competent authority, the competent authority shall respond to it in the same manner as an exporter or producer under Article 3.27 (Verification of Origin). A competent authority shall maintain records in the same manner as an exporter or producer under Article 3.26 (Record Keeping Requirements). If the competent authority that issued the certification of origin fails to respond to a verification request, the importing Party may deny the claim for preferential tariff treatment.

11. If an importing Party makes a verification request under Article 3.27.1(b) (Verification of Origin), it shall, on request of the Party where the exporter or producer is located and in accordance with the importing Party’s laws and regulations, inform that Party. The Parties concerned shall decide the manner and timing of informing the Party where the exporter or producer is located of the verification request. In addition, on request of the importing Party, the competent authority of the Party where the exporter or producer is located may, as it deems appropriate and in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Party where the exporter or producer is located, assist in the verification in the same manner as Article 3.27.7 (Verification of Origin).

Annex 3–B: Minimum Data Requirements

A certification of origin that is the basis for a claim for preferential tariff treatment under this Agreement shall include the following elements:

1. Importer, Exporter or Producer Certification of Origin

Indicate whether the certifier is the exporter, producer or importer in accordance with Article 3.20 (Claims for Preferential Treatment).

2. Certifier

Provide the certifier’s name, address (including country), telephone number and e-mail address.

3. Exporter

Provide the exporter’s name, address (including country), e-mail address and telephone number if different from the certifier. This information is not required if the producer is completing the certification of origin and does not know the identity of the exporter. The address of the exporter shall be the place of export of the good in a TPP country.

4. Producer

Provide the producer’s name, address (including country), e-mail address and telephone number, if different from the certifier or exporter or, if there are multiple producers, state “Various” or provide a list of producers. A person that wishes for this information to remain confidential may state “Available upon request by the importing authorities”. The address of a producer shall be the place of production of the good in a TPP country.

5. Importer

Provide, if known, the importer’s name, address, e-mail address and telephone number.  The address of the importer shall be in a TPP country.

6. Description and HS Tariff Classification of the Good

7. Origin Criterion

Specify the rule of origin under which the good qualifies.

8. Blanket Period

Include the period if the certification covers multiple shipments of identical goods for a specified period of up to 12 months as set out in Article 3.20.4 (Claims for Preferential Treatment).

9. Authorised Signature and Date

The certification must be signed and dated by the certifier and accompanied by the following statement:

I certify that the goods described in this document qualify as originating and the information contained in this document is true and accurate. I assume responsibility for proving such representations and agree to maintain and present upon request or to make available during a verification visit, documentation necessary to support this certification.

Annex 3–C: Exceptions to Article 3.11 (De Minimis)

Each Party shall provide that Article 3.11 (De Minimis) shall not apply to:

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