Certificate of Origin and Form E: How to Legally Reduce Import Duty on HOWO and SHACMAN Trucks

What Is a Certificate of Origin?

A Certificate of Origin is an official document that certifies where a vehicle was manufactured. Customs authorities in the destination country use it to determine which duty rate applies to your truck.

For a HOWO or SHACMAN truck, the CO is typically issued by:

• The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)
• A local Chamber of Commerce in the exporting city

A standard CO is required for most truck imports, but it does not automatically lower your duty. It simply proves the vehicle is of Chinese origin, so the standard Most Favored Nation (MFN) rate applies. The value is in establishing origin, not in unlocking a preference.

What Is Form E and Who Can Use It?

Form E is a preferential Certificate of Origin issued under the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA). It entitles importers in qualifying ASEAN member countries to a reduced or zero duty rate on vehicles manufactured in China.

Countries that benefit from Form E include:

• Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines
• Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei

If your business is based in any of these countries and you are importing HOWO or SHACMAN trucks, you should be requesting Form E on every shipment. On a truck priced at 40,000 to 60,000 USD, even a 5 percent duty reduction saves 2,000 to 3,000 USD per unit.

How Form E Works in Practice

Your supplier applies for Form E from the local customs authority or Chamber of Commerce before or at the time of export. The document must be issued before the truck departs China, or within a few days of the sailing date in some cases.

To qualify, the vehicle must meet the rules of origin requirements under ACFTA. For most vehicles manufactured and assembled in China, including HOWO and SHACMAN trucks, this condition is almost always satisfied.

Key things to verify before shipment departs:

• The Form E must be the original document, not a photocopy, at first lodgment with customs.
• The vehicle description on Form E, including chassis and engine details, must match the commercial invoice exactly.
• The HS code on Form E must match what your customs broker files at the destination port.

Give your customs broker a copy of Form E before the shipment arrives so they can prepare the entry correctly and claim the preferential rate.

What About Non-ASEAN Countries?

If you are importing into Australia, the UK, the EU, the UAE, or the USA, Form E does not apply. However, there are other mechanisms worth checking:

• Australia has the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), which uses a Declaration of Origin and can bring certain vehicle categories to a reduced duty.
• Some countries allow duty suspension for commercial vehicles not produced locally. A customs broker or trade attorney can advise on whether your import qualifies.
• Even without a preferential rate, confirming the correct HS code for a tractor unit, dump truck, or specialized body type is worth doing carefully, since misclassification is a common and costly mistake.

A standard Certificate of Origin is still required for all truck imports as proof of origin, even when no preferential rate applies.

How to Request These Documents From Your Supplier

When you confirm a purchase order, add a clear documentation requirement:

"Please provide: (1) Original Certificate of Origin issued by CCPIT or Chamber of Commerce, (2) Form E under ACFTA if our destination country qualifies, (3) Commercial invoice matching the CO and Form E exactly, including chassis and engine numbers."

Experienced truck exporters handle these documents as standard practice. If a supplier is unfamiliar with Form E or hesitates, treat that as a signal worth noting in your vetting process.

A Short Checklist Before Your Shipment Departs

• Confirm your customs broker has verified the correct HS code for the specific truck type.
• Ask your supplier whether Form E applies to your country.
• Check that the vehicle description on the CO matches your invoice, chassis number, and engine number.
• Ensure the Form E is original and dated before the sailing date.

Small administrative steps at the origin end can save thousands of dollars per truck at the destination end.

Planning to import HOWO or SHACMAN trucks from China? We supply new, remanufactured and refurbished trucks factory-direct and handle standard export documentation, including Certificate of Origin and Form E where applicable. Contact us for a quote.