Certain motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment are eligible for duty-free entry as proclaimed by the President under the Automotive Products Trade Act of 1965. The articles designated for such duty-free treatment are defined in General Note 3(c)(iii), HTSUS (19 U.S.C. 1202). Specifically, such articles are those designated [as “Free (B)”] in the “Special” subcolumn in Chapter 87, HTSUS, and must qualify as “Canadian articles” as defined in General Note 3(c)(iii)(A)(1), HTSUS. To claim exemption from duty under the Automotive Products Trade Act of 1965, an importer must establish, to the satisfaction of the appropriate Customs officer, that the article in question qualifies as a “Canadian article” for purposes of General Note 3(c)(iii)A)(1), HTSUS. The Customs officer may accept as satisfactory evidence a certificate executed by the exporter as set forth in paragraph (b) of this section, subject to any verification he may deem necessary. Alternatively, the Customs officer may determine that under the circumstances of the importation a certificate is unnecessary.

Under the United States-Canada Free-Trade Agreement and implementing legislation (Pub. L. 100-449, 102 Stat. 1851) a manufacturer of motor vehicles may elect to average, over its 12-month financial year, its calculation of the value-content requirement for vehicles in establishing its eligibility for tariff preference. Requirements for averaging are set forth in § 10.310 and 10.311.

When all materials used at any stage in the production of the imported article are wholly obtained or produced in Canada or the United States, or both, a certificate, or its electronic equivalent, in the following form may be accepted as evidence that the commodity is a “Canadian article”:

All materials contained in the product covered by the _____ (Describe the invoice, bill of lading, or other document or statement identifying the shipment) annexed or appended to this certificate of Canadian origin at the time it was subscribed were wholly obtained or produced in Canada or the United States, or both. No materials other than those which were wholly obtained or produced in Canada or the United States, or both, were incorporated into this product or any of its components at any stage of production or in the production of any intermediate product used at any stage in the chain of production in Canada or the United States, or both.

When any material used at any stage in the production of an imported article or any of its components is not wholly obtained or produced in Canada or the United States, or both, a certificate, or its electronic equivalent, in the following form may be accepted as evidence that the commodity is nevertheless a “Canadian article”:

The product covered by the _____ (Describe the invoice, bill of lading, or other document or statement identifying the shipment) annexed or appended to this certificate of Canadian origin at the time it was subscribed is an originating good so as to be a Canadian article. There were used in its production in Canada _____ (Description sufficient for tariff classification of the materials, and number of units) of third country materials of which the price paid was _____ per unit of quantity, plus _____ which represents all costs incurred in transporting the materials to the location of the producer and the duties, taxes, and brokerage fees on the materials, if such costs were not included in the price paid.

If such Customs officer is satisfied that the revenue will be protected adequately thereby, he may accept in lieu of the certificate specified in paragraph (b)(2) of this section a certificate, or its electronic equivalent, in the following form when the merchandise covered thereby has been produced with third country material but is an originating good under a specific rule of origin for the merchandise:

The product covered by the _____ (Describe the invoice, bill of lading, or other document or statement identifying the shipment) annexed or appended to this certificate of Canadian origin at the time it was subscribed is an originating good so as to be a Canadian article. There were or may have been used in its production in Canada or the United States, or both, materials of a third country.

It is impractical to ascertain the exact number of units of third country material, if any, used in its production or the price paid (and other costs required to be included in the price paid) of such materials but to the best of (my) (our) (its) knowledge the materials are described (sufficient for tariff classification purposes) as follows: _____.

The certificates described in paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section, or their electronic equivalents, shall not be accepted if the statements therein make it evident that the importation is not a “Canadian article” within the meaning of General Note 3(c), HTSUS.

If more than one kind of article is covered by a certificate provided for in paragraph (b) (1), (2), or (3) of this section, the information required by the certificate shall be shown with respect to each kind. When more than one kind of material, other than originating material, is used in the production of an article covered by such a certificate, the certificate shall state the number of units, a description sufficient for tariff classification purposes, the price paid, and, if not included in the price paid, the costs incurred in transporting the materials to the location of the producer and duties, taxes and brokerage fees paid in Canada and/or the United States on the material, per unit of each kind of materials.

A certificate conforming to paragraph (b) (1), (2), or (3) of this section shall be accepted as evidence of the facts alleged therein only if:

There is annexed thereto a copy of the commercial invoice or bill of lading, or the electronic equivalent, covering the articles or other documentary evidence which identifies the article to which the certificate pertains,

The certificate, or its electronic equivalent, is signed by the manufacturer or producer of the article to which it pertains, or by the person who exported the articles from Canada, and

It clearly appears that such copy or other documentary evidence was annexed to the certificate when it was signed.

In lieu of the certification in paragraph (b) (1), (2), or (3) of this section, a manufacturer of motor vehicles who claims a preference under the United States-Canada Free-Trade Agreement and elects to average pursuant to § 10.310(a), shall be subject to the requirements of §§ 10.301 to 10.311 of this part.

When an importer makes an entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption of articles for use as “original motor-vehicle equipment” as that term is defined in General Note 3(c)(iii), HTSUS, he shall file in connection therewith his declaration that the articles are being imported for use as original equipment in the manufacture in the United States of the kinds of motor vehicles specified in the General Note and furnish the name and address of the motor vehicle manufacturer. A copy of the written order, contract, or letter of intent shall be attached to the importer's declaration except that if the Center director is satisfied that a copy of the written order, contract, or letter of intent will be made available by the importer or ultimate consignee for inspection by customs officials upon request during a period of 3 years from the date of such entry or withdrawal from warehouse, the production of such documents will not be required. Proof of use need not be furnished.

If, after a Canadian article has been accorded the status of original motor-vehicle equipment, it is decided to divert the article from its intended use in the manufacture in the United States of motor vehicles, the importer or other person deciding to divert the article from such intended use shall give notice in writing of the decision to the CBP, either at the port of entry or electronically or where the offices of the importer are located and either make arrangements for its destruction or exportation under Customs supervision or pay duties in accordance with General Note 3(c)(iii)(B)(2), HTSUS. If such article is not destroyed or exported under Customs supervision or the duties paid, the article, or its value, shall be subject to forfeiture.