GSP Certificate of Origin

The GSP Certificate of Origin (Generalized System of Preferences Certificate of Origin) is an official document that developed countries use to grant developing countries preferential, non-discriminatory, and non-reciprocal tariff treatment for exports of manufactured and semi-manufactured goods. It is issued by a visa-issuing authority authorized by the exporting country's government (such as China Customs or the CCPIT), certifying that the goods originate in a beneficiary country, so that the importing country's customs can grant tariff reductions or exemptions accordingly. Usage scenarios: When China (as a beneficiary country) exports products to preference-giving countries (such as the EU, the UK, Russia, Australia, etc.), the importer can use this certificate to enjoy GSP tariff rates lower than the MFN rate. Notes: 1) The certificate must be issued before or at the time of shipment, and is usually valid for 10 months; 2) The origin criteria must be truthfully declared and must meet the preference-giving country's rules of origin (such as wholly obtained or substantial transformation); 3) Formats vary slightly among preference-giving countries, with Form A being commonly used; 4) Since 2021, the EU and others have canceled GSP treatment for China, but some countries still retain it. Difference from other terms: An ordinary Certificate of Origin (CO) only certifies origin and does not involve tariff preferences; the core function of a GSP certificate is tariff reduction or exemption, and it applies only to products on the preference-giving country's list.