Duty 0.0 percent is a paperwork discipline, not a promise.
Every trailer crosses the border with its USMCA certificate of origin filed in advance. This page is what your customs broker will ask about, written down.
Why the duty line reads zero
Paper and paperboard packaging manufactured in Mexico from North American inputs qualifies as originating under USMCA. Qualifying goods enter the US at 0.0 percent duty, against roughly 37.5 percent in Section 301 era duty on the same product from China.
Qualification is per product, not per company. We run the rules of origin analysis on your SKU before we quote it, and the quote states whether the good qualifies. If it does not qualify, we say so in the quote, because a duty surprise at entry costs more than the order.
How a box qualifies
Tariff shift
Paperboard enters the plant classified as board and leaves classified as a carton, box, or bag. That transformation in Mexico is what the rules of origin measure, and our converting operations meet it for the paper categories we run.
North American inputs
SBS, greyboard, kraft and corrugated substrates are sourced from North American mills. Mill certificates are kept on file per lot and tie each PO to its substrate origin.
Record keeping
USMCA requires the certifier to keep qualification records for 5 years. We keep them for every shipment and produce them on request, including during a CBP verification.
Dust bags follow different rules.
Fabric dust bags are textiles, and USMCA textile rules are stricter than paper rules: qualification generally follows the yarn-forward standard, meaning the yarn and fabric must be formed in North America, not just the sewing. Cotton and RPET fabrics that meet yarn-forward qualify at 0 percent. Imported fabric that does not meet it carries the normal MFN duty for the classification, and we quote dust bags with the duty stated either way, so the landed comparison stays honest.
What arrives with every trailer
Filed before the trailer leaves the yard, delivered as one PDF package per shipment.
- USMCA CERTIFICATE
- Certificate of origin, certifier: producer
- COMMERCIAL INVOICE
- Per PO, USD, incoterm stated
- PACKING LIST
- Cartons, pallets, weights, dims
- BILL OF LADING
- Bonded carrier, through to your dock
- MILL CERTS
- Substrate origin, per lot, on request
- SEAL RECORD
- Numbered bolt seal, photographed at the yard
- CROSSING
- Border crossing chosen per lane, broker briefed in advance
You are the importer of record. We do the paperwork.
Your broker gets the package before the truck reaches the border. If you do not have a broker, we introduce you to the ones our other customers clear with, and you contract them directly.
Send the spec. Quote back in 2 business days.
Attach a drawing, a dieline, or last year's invoice and we quote against the exact same spec so the comparison is honest. No drawing yet: describe the box and we will draw it.
Request a quote- QUOTE SLA
- 2 business days
- SAMPLES
- 7-10 days, shipped DHL
- HOURS
- 07:00-19:00 CT, Mon-Fri
- DIRECT
- rfq@overlandpackaging.com