19 U.S. Code § 3332 - Rules of origin

Except as provided in subsection (c)(1), and for a motor vehicle identified in subsection (c)(2) or a component identified in Annex 403.2 of the Agreement, the value of nonoriginating materials used by the producer in the production of a good shall not, for purposes of calculating the regional value-content of the good under paragraph (2) or (3), include the value of nonoriginating materials used to produce originating materials that are subsequently used in the production of the good.

If an exporter or producer of a good calculates the regional value-content of the good on the basis of the transaction value method and a NAFTA country subsequently notifies the exporter or producer, during the course of a verification conducted in accordance with chapter 5 of the Agreement, that the transaction value of the good or the value of any material used in the production of the good must be adjusted or is unacceptable under Article 1 of the Customs Valuation Code, the exporter or producer may calculate the regional value-content of the good on the basis of the net cost method.

Except for goods described in subsection (c)(1), any self-produced material, other than a component identified in Annex 403.2 of the Agreement, that is used in the production of a good may be designated by the producer of the good as an intermediate material for the purpose of calculating the regional value-content of the good under paragraph (2) or (3); provided that if the intermediate material is subject to a regional value-content requirement, no other self-produced material that is subject to a regional value-content requirement and is used in the production of the intermediate material may be designated by the producer as an intermediate material.

The value of an indirect material shall be based on the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles applicable in the territory of the NAFTA country in which the good is produced.

In the case of goods provided for in subheadings 8703.21 through 8703.90, or subheading 8704.21 or 8704.31, exported from Canada directly to the United States, and entered on or after January 1, 1989, and before the date of entry into force of the Agreement between the United States and Canada, an importer may elect to use the rules of origin set out in this section in lieu of the rules of origin contained in section 202 of the United States-Canada Free-Trade Agreement Implementation Act of 1988 (19 U.S.C. 2112 note) and may elect to use the method for calculating the value of nonoriginating materials established in article 403(2) of the Agreement in lieu of the method established in article 403(1) of the Agreement for purposes of determining eligibility for preferential duty treatment under the United States-Canada Free-Trade Agreement. Any election under this paragraph shall be made in writing to the Customs Service not later than the date that is 180 days after the date of entry into force of the Agreement between the United States and Canada. Any such election may be made only if the liquidation of such entry has not become final. For purposes of averaging the calculation of regional value-content for the goods covered by such entry, where the producer’s 1989–1990 fiscal year began after January 1, 1989, the producer may include the period between January 1, 1989, and the beginning of its first fiscal year after January 1, 1989, as part of fiscal year 1989–1990.

For purposes of subsection (b)(10), the production of a producer that chooses to accumulate its production with that of other producers under paragraph (1) shall be treated as the production of a single producer.

Paragraph (1) does not apply to a nonoriginating material used in the production of a good provided for in chapters 1 through 27 of the HTS unless the nonoriginating material is provided for in a different subheading than the good for which origin is being determined under this section.

A good provided for in chapters 50 through 63 of the HTS, that does not originate because certain fibers or yarns used in the production of the component of the good that determines the tariff classification of the good do not undergo an applicable change in tariff classification set out in Annex 401 of the Agreement, shall be considered to be a good that originates if the total weight of all such fibers or yarns in that component is not more than 7 percent of the total weight of that component.

The term “Customs Valuation Code” means the Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, including its interpretative notes.

The term “F.O.B.” means free on board, regardless of the mode of transportation, at the point of direct shipment by the seller to the buyer.

The terms “fungible goods” and “fungible materials” mean goods or materials that are interchangeable for commercial purposes and whose properties are essentially identical.

The term “Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” means the recognized consensus or substantial authoritative support in the territory of a NAFTA country with respect to the recording of revenues, expenses, costs, assets and liabilities, disclosure of information, and preparation of financial statements. These standards may be broad guidelines of general application as well as detailed standards, practices, or procedures.

The term “identical or similar goods” means “identical goods” and “similar goods”, respectively, as defined in the Customs Valuation Code.

The term “intermediate material” means a material that is self-produced, used in the production of a good, and designated pursuant to subsection (b)(10).

The term “marque” means the trade name used by a separate marketing division of a motor vehicle assembler.

The term “material” means a good that is used in the production of another good and includes a part or an ingredient.

The term “model line” means a group of motor vehicles having the same platform or model name.

The term “motor vehicle assembler” means a producer of motor vehicles and any related persons or joint ventures in which the producer participates.

The term “NAFTA country” means the United States, Canada or Mexico for such time as the Agreement is in force with respect to Canada or Mexico, and the United States applies the Agreement to Canada or Mexico.

The term “new building” means a new construction, including at least the pouring or construction of new foundation and floor, the erection of a new structure and roof, and installation of new plumbing, electrical, and other utilities to house a complete vehicle assembly process.

The term “net cost” means total cost less sales promotion, marketing and after-sales service costs, royalties, shipping and packing costs, and nonallowable interest costs that are included in the total cost.

The term “net cost of a good” means the net cost that can be reasonably allocated to a good using one of the methods set out in subsection (b)(8).

The term “nonallowable interest costs” means interest costs incurred by a producer as a result of an interest rate that exceeds the applicable Federal Government interest rate for comparable maturities by more than 700 basis points, determined pursuant to regulations implementing this section.

The term “nonoriginating good” or “nonoriginating material” means a good or material that does not qualify as an originating good or material under the rules of origin set out in this section.

The term “originating” means qualifying under the rules of origin set out in this section.

The term “producer” means a person who grows, mines, harvests, fishes, traps, hunts, manufactures, processes, or assembles a good.

The term “production” means growing, mining, harvesting, fishing, trapping, hunting, manufacturing, processing, or assembling a good.

The term “reasonably allocate” means to apportion in a manner appropriate to the circumstances.

The term “refit” means a plant closure, for purposes of plant conversion or retooling, that lasts at least 3 months.

The term “self-produced material” means a material that is produced by the producer of a good and used in the production of that good.

The term “shipping and packing costs” means the costs incurred in packing a good for shipment and shipping the good from the point of direct shipment to the buyer, but does not include the costs of preparing and packaging the good for retail sale.

The term “territory” means a territory described in Annex 201.1 of the Agreement.

The term “total cost” means all product costs, period costs, and other costs incurred in the territory of one or more of the NAFTA countries.

Except as provided in subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2)(A), the term “transaction value” means the price actually paid or payable for a good or material with respect to a transaction of the producer of the good, adjusted in accordance with the principles of paragraphs 1, 3, and 4 of Article 8 of the Customs Valuation Code and determined without regard to whether the good or material is sold for export.

The term “underbody” means the floor pan of a motor vehicle.

The term “used” means used or consumed in the production of goods.