A Certificate of Origin (CoO) is a signed statement as to the country of origin of the exported products for a particular shipment.  This document is required by foreign governments, declaring that goods in a particular international shipment are of a certain origin.  Certificates of Origin can also be used to satisfy the buyers that the products exported are wholly obtained, produced or manufactured in a certain country.  Customs officers will use this document to determine whether or not a preferential duty rate applies on the products being imported and whether a shipment may be legally imported during a specific quota period.

In Trinidad and Tobago, exporTT, Customs and Excise Division of the Ministry of Finance and the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (T&T Chamber) are the only three bodies authorized to issue Certificates of Origin.

  1. Customs and Excise Division – issues preferential Certificates of Origin for goods to be exported to Europe and USA.
  2. exporTT – issues preferential Certificates of Origin for goods exported to CARICOM (excluding Haiti & Bahamas) and countries with whom  Trinidad and Tobago has a Free Trade Agreement.
  3. T& T Chamber  – issues non-preferential Certificates of Origin for goods that do not fall under established Free Trade Agreements.All companies seeking Certificates of Origin must have a registered account with TTBizlink before requesting certification. For further information on registering your business on TTBizLink please click visit: www.ttbizlink.gov.tt or call 800-4SEW or 800-4739.

The T&T Chamber’s is issuing COOs electronically –  once approved, your COO will be emailed to your designated contact(s). Payments can be made via bank transfer or at the T&T Chamber Building via cash, cheque, Debit or Credit Card.

Processing fees are as follows:

  • Verification Fee (a one-time fee upon registration) – TT$600 + VAT
    This entails a site visit by the T&T Chamber to your factory in order to observe the manufacturing process to satisfy the requirement that the finished product that you will be exported is being manufactured in T&T.
  • Certificate of Origin submitted via TTBizLink:
    Chamber Members: TT$125 per CoO
    Potential Members: TT$150 per CoO
  • Export documents that need to be attested by the T&T Chamber or manual Certificates of Origin:
    Chamber Members: TT$225 per CoO
    Potential Members: TT$300 per CoO

For further information please contact: 

Ms. Rianna E. Paul Manager – Trade and Business Development Unit
(868) 637-6966
Email: [email protected]

Or

Ms. Leeooi Edmund Trade Analyst – Trade and Business Development Unit
Email: [email protected]