The India-UAE CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) is a bilateral free trade agreement designed to enhance trade and economic cooperation between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This agreement simplifies customs procedures and provides various concessions to facilitate trade between the two countries.
The India-UAE CEPA Certificate of Origin is issued to confirm that the goods being exported qualify for preferential treatment under the CEPA. This certificate is issued by the Department of Commerce in India, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, and the Ministry of Economy of the UAE.
In this article, we will explore the key aspects of the India-UAE CEPA agreement and the CEPA Certificate of Origin.
The India-UAE CEPA Certificate of Origin is a document that certifies the origin of goods exported under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the UAE. It is issued by relevant authorities in India and the UAE to confirm that the products meet the agreement’s criteria for preferential treatment, facilitating smoother and more cost-effective trade between the two nations.
What is India UAE CEPA Certificate of Origin or CEPA Certificate
The India-UAE CEPA Certificate of Origin is a document that certifies the origin of goods exported under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the UAE. It is issued by relevant authorities in India and the UAE to confirm that the products meet the agreement’s criteria for preferential treatment, facilitating smoother and more cost-effective trade between the two nations.
CEPA – Rules of Origin Requirements
- Products are considered to originate from a party country if they meet the following criteria:
- Wholly obtained products: Entirely produced or obtained in the exporting country.
- Value-added criteria: Products must undergo significant value addition in the exporting country.
- Change in headings & subheadings: Products must meet specific tariff classification changes.
- Change in harmonized system (HS) chapter: Products must comply with changes in HS chapters.
- Final manufacturing: Final substantial transformation or manufacturing must occur in the exporting country.
- Detailed product information: Detailed information about the product must be shared with authorities to ensure compliance.
- Sufficient working or production: The product must undergo sufficient working or production as outlined in the Product Specific Rules (PSR).
- Jewelry sector: Special lower value addition criteria apply to ornaments and jewelry.
- Proof of origin can be provided through:
- Digitized certificates issued by authorized government bodies.
- Paper certificates issued in electronic or hard copy format by authorized bodies.
- Declaration by an approved exporter as per CEPA rules.
Documents Required For CEPA Certification
- Organization based Digital Signature Certificate
- DGFT Login ID
- Updated Import Export Code
- Digital Signature Certificate software
- Mobile No. & Email address
- Commercial Invoice
- Purchase Bill that has details of quantity, origin of raw materials, consumables used in
- product meant for export
- Manufacturer Exporter Declaration on the company’s Letterhead
- Product Description
- Purchase order from importer company
Process for IUCEPA Registration
- Account Creation: Create an account on the DGFT portal or another authorized government portal using a DSC or equivalent.
- Documentation: Provide valid information and required documents with the application to prove the origin of the products.
- Verification & Authorization: The issuing authority will conduct a thorough inspection and verification through a risk management system to authenticate the product’s origin.
- Certification: Once approved, the India-UAE CEPA Certificate or Certificate of Origin will be issued. The certificate must detail the product and exporting entity and be in English.
Eligibility of Products Under India-UAE CEPA
If a product meets the following criteria, it is considered to have originated in a contracting nation and is eligible for preferential treatment:
- Wholly Obtained or Produced Products such as:
- Live animals
- Agricultural products
- Products made from animals
- Products made from marine animals
- Products made from natural resources
- Products produced exclusively in the territory of the country
- Sufficient Working or Production: The product must have undergone sufficient working or production according to the Product Specific Rules.
Note: The products must be procured or manufactured in the party country, and exporters must provide a valid certificate of origin.
Benefits of India UAE CEPA Agreement
- Reducing tariffs & trade barriers in preferred countries
- Encouraging cross border transactions between the territories of the Contracting counties.
- Promoting fair competition in the free trade states
- Ensuring equitable benefits to all Contracting countries
- Effective mechanism for joint administration & resolution of disputes
- Framework for regional cooperation and enhance mutual benefits for trade.
Other Free Trade Agreements
India has expanded its market access commitments for neighboring service providers, allowing companies to enhance their international presence. Under various Free or Preferential Trade Agreements, certificates of origin can be generated from India to secure import benefits. These agreements include:
- ICPTA: India-Chile Preferential Trade Agreement
- SAFTA: South Asia Free Trade Agreement
- SAPTA: SAARC Preferential Trade Agreement
- IKCEPA: India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
- IJCEPA: India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
- AIFTA: ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement
- ISFTA: India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement
- APTA: Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement
- GSP: Generalized System of Preferences
- GSTP: Global System of Trade Preferences
- IMCECA: India-Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement
- ISCECA: India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement