Navigating Complex Rules of Origin to Unlock Preferential Duty Savings

The challenge

The client was importing goods across mutiple jurisdictions under variuos Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)

• Uncertainty around origin qualification due to complex Bills of Materials (BOMs)
• Multiple production strages across different countries
• Inconsistent or incomplete supplier origin data
• Risk of incorrect preference claims and potential post-clearance exposure
• Missed opportunities to optimise duty under available FTAs

In several cases, products were being imported under MFN rates despite potential eligibility for preferential treatment..

Our approach

Frontiera delivered a structured origin review programme, including: 

• End-to-end mapping of supply chains and production processes
• Detailed Bill of Materials (BOM) analysis at component level
• Assessment against relevant Product Specific Rules (PSRs)
• Indentification of applicable origin rules e.g., CTC, RVC, specific processing 
• Supplier engagement to obtain and validate origin declarations
• Gap analysis of existing origin documentation and processes

We then:

• Evaluated alternative sourcing and production scenarios to achive origin
• Provided clear origin determinations with supporting rationale
• Designed internal controls with policies, processes and procedures for ongoing origin management