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Glossary · Customs & duties
What is COO (Country of origin marking)?
The US rule that imported goods, or their containers, must show the country of origin in English, legibly and as permanently as the item allows.
Under Section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and CBP's regulations in 19 CFR Part 134, most imported articles must be marked so the ultimate purchaser in the US knows where they were made, for example “Made in China”. The marking must be legible, conspicuous and as permanent as the article allows. Some articles are excepted, and then the outer container is marked instead.
Goods that are unmarked or wrongly marked can be held until they are re-marked under CBP supervision, and may face marking duties. A false origin, such as labeling Chinese goods as made elsewhere, is a serious violation.
Agree the marking with the factory before production: the wording, position and method (molded, engraved, printed or labeled). It is far cheaper than relabeling a container's worth of goods in a US warehouse.
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