PA

For US customs, the country of origin is generally where the product was manufactured, produced, or substantially transformed—not the country where it was shipped from, exported through, or purchased. In this tracker, “PA” is the country code for Panama. Verify that the code is being used as an origin designation and not merely as a routing or export location.

Origin matters because tariff measures can apply differently depending on the product’s origin and the legal measure being reviewed. Common pitfalls include treating the last shipping point as origin, assuming simple assembly always changes origin, overlooking components from other countries, or relying on a supplier’s invoice statement without supporting records. A “substantial transformation” analysis may require product-specific customs or broker judgment.

What to check

• Identify where the goods were actually manufactured, produced, or substantially transformed, and distinguish that location from the ship-from country.
• Review the product’s classification, manufacturing steps, and materials from each country; origin and tariff classification are separate customs determinations.
• Check whether a special origin rule applies, such as a trade agreement, marking rule, or product-specific measure, rather than assuming one general rule fits all goods.
• Obtain and retain supplier records, bills of materials, production descriptions, and origin certifications or declarations that support the claimed country.
• Confirm the origin and applicable measures with official customs sources or a qualified customs broker when production involves multiple countries or limited processing.