Brazil

For US customs, the country of origin is generally where a product was wholly obtained or produced, or where the last substantial transformation occurred. It is not necessarily the country the goods were shipped from, exported through, or purchased from. For example, goods made in one country and sent to the United States through Brazil may not be Brazilian-origin goods.

Origin matters because tariff measures and other import requirements can be assigned by origin. When tracking measures for Brazil, confirm that the goods actually qualify as Brazil-origin under the applicable customs rules. Common pitfalls include confusing shipping country with origin, relying only on the seller’s location, overlooking processing in multiple countries, and applying an origin conclusion to a product without reviewing its specific facts and classification. Some products also have special origin rules, so complex cases may require a customs broker or trade specialist.

What to check

• Identify where each component or material was produced and document the manufacturing steps performed in each country.
• Determine whether processing in Brazil—or another country—created a new article with a different name, character, or use; this is the core concept of substantial transformation.
• Check the product’s HTS classification and any product-specific or preferential-trade origin rules that may apply.
• Keep commercial invoices, bills of materials, production records, supplier origin statements, and shipping documents that support the claimed origin.
• Compare the documented origin with the measure’s stated scope, and ask a customs broker or qualified trade professional to review uncertain or multi-country cases.