Electronic Certificate of Origin

An Electronic Certificate of Origin (ECO) is a document issued by a government-authorized body or chamber of commerce in electronic form that can be verified online. It certifies that goods originate from a specific country or region and serves as a key basis for the importing country's customs to determine tariff treatment (such as preferential rates under free trade agreements) and trade statistics. Usage scenarios include: enterprises apply online through a single window or CCPIT system, and upon approval receive an electronic certificate that can be printed or sent to the importer. Precautions: ensure the electronic signature and QR code are verifiable; some countries still require the original or consular legalization. Compared with paper certificates, ECO offers faster issuance, lower cost, and stronger anti-counterfeiting, but acceptance varies by importing country. Difference: ECO is the electronic version of a traditional CO with equal legal effect, but not all countries recognize it; AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) concerns enterprise credit and is different from ECO.