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The short answer

USMCA (T-MEC in Mexico) lets qualifying goods receive preferential tariff treatment when they meet the product's rule of origin and the importer claims it with supporting records. It does not remove customs entry, Mexico's IVA, product permits, the Carta Porte or trade measures that apply outside the agreement. Treat it as one field in the shipment file: qualified, not qualified or still being confirmed.

This page is part of the U.S.–Mexico Freight Shipping Guide. FCC does not determine origin or tariff treatment; your customs broker and the party certifying origin do.

How a USMCA claim works

A product does not qualify because it ships from a U.S. warehouse or a Mexican plant. Origin can depend on where the materials come from, where production happens, the product-specific rule, a required tariff-classification change, or regional value content. Some goods are simple; others need detailed sourcing and manufacturing records.

The importer claims the preference on the entry. The claim is supported by a certification of origin, and the certifier must keep records that back it up.

What a certification looks like

There is no prescribed certificate form. A certification can be on the invoice or any other document if it contains the nine minimum data elements:

  1. Whether the importer, exporter or producer is certifying
  2. The certifier
  3. The exporter
  4. The producer
  5. The importer
  6. Description and HS classification of the goods
  7. The origin criterion
  8. The blanket period, if used
  9. Authorized signature and date

The importer, exporter or producer may certify, under the applicable rules. The carrier and the freight broker do not.

What the shipper needs

  • The correct tariff classification, confirmed with the customs broker
  • The product-specific rule of origin
  • Who will certify, and the records that support it
  • An importer who knows to claim the preference
  • A check of current trade measures for the product

What USMCA does not solve

Even when goods qualify, the load still needs the customs entry and pedimento, the invoice, packing list and bill of lading, permits or product approvals, Mexico's applicable IVA and other fees, the Carta Porte for the move inside Mexico, and ordinary permits for oversize freight. Trade preference and transportation readiness are separate checks.

Common failure points

  • "Made in the USA" assumed to mean USMCA-originating.
  • A NAFTA-era certificate reused for a current claim.
  • The certification missing a data element or a signature.
  • Origin first questioned at the border, with the truck waiting.

Before saying "USMCA applies"

  • Tariff classification confirmed with the customs broker
  • Product-specific origin rule identified
  • Certifier named (importer, exporter or producer)
  • Nine minimum data elements present
  • Supporting records available
  • Importer ready to claim the preference
  • Current trade measures checked for the product

Common questions

Is there still a USMCA certificate form?

No single form is required. CBP publishes an optional template, but any document with the nine data elements can serve.

If a product is made in the U.S., is it automatically USMCA-eligible?

No. It must meet the applicable rule of origin, which can turn on where its materials came from.

Does USMCA eliminate Mexico's IVA?

No. Preferential duty treatment and value-added tax are different things.

Did USMCA end on 1 July 2026?

No. The joint review did not end the agreement. It remained in force as of the date this page was checked; confirm current status before relying on it.

Keep the origin question off the critical path

Send the freight now and mark USMCA status as qualified, not qualified or being confirmed; we will price the move without waiting on the answer.

Request a Freight Quote

Official sources

Last verified: 27 September 2026 against the official sources listed.