The CBP Form 434 serves as the official North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Certificate of Origin. Exporters use it to certify that goods traded among the United States, Canada, and Mexico qualify for NAFTA preferential tariff rates. By completing this form correctly, businesses can eliminate or significantly reduce import duties on qualifying goods crossing NAFTA borders.
Exporters or producers complete the form with detailed information for each good listed. Required fields include a description of the goods, the six-digit Harmonized System (HS) tariff classification number, the applicable NAFTA preference criterion (Criterion A through F), the net cost method or transaction value used for regional value content calculations, and the country of origin. Importers must retain a valid certificate at the time of making a NAFTA preferential tariff claim with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The certificate can cover a single shipment or serve as a blanket certificate for multiple shipments of identical goods over a period of up to 12 months. Blanket certificates are particularly useful for businesses that regularly export the same goods between NAFTA member countries, as they reduce the administrative burden of completing a new form for each shipment.
On July 1, 2020, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) replaced NAFTA. New trade between the three countries now uses a different certification format under the USMCA. However, the form remains relevant for audits, legacy shipments, and historical trade compliance reviews. For related forms, explore the NAFTA Certificate of Origin (Canada) and other Certificate of Origin forms available on FormsPal.
Completing the form accurately is a legal obligation. Submitting false or misleading information can result in recovery of unpaid duties, civil penalties, and potential criminal charges. Exporters must maintain supporting documentation proving that their goods meet NAFTA origin requirements for at least five years after the date of importation, as CBP may request verification at any time.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Form Name | CBP Form 434 |
| Form Length | 3 pages |
| Fillable? | No |
| Fillable fields | 0 |
| Avg. time to fill out | 45 sec |
| Other names | NAFTA Certificate of Origin, North American Free Trade Agreement Certificate of Origin |
| Issuing authority | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) |
| Applicable trade agreement | NAFTA (superseded by USMCA on July 1, 2020) |
