No need for certificates of origin in the trade between US and Israel

As of January 10, the need for certificates of origin in the trade between the United States and Israel - a requirement that today constitutes a condition for imports between the countries in the products to which they wish to receive the benefits of the free trade agreement between the two countries - will be canceled.

The important mesure comes in the wake of the activities of the Ministry of Economy and Industry, together with the Customs Administration, to reach the conclusion of the Joint Economic Committee under the Free Trade Zone Agreement, headed by the Foreign Trade Administration of the Ministry of Economy and Industry and the US Trade Representative, the USTR.

According to the agreement signed in 1985, importers and exporters were required to provide the importing country with a special form. Many importers and exporters complained about difficulties in obtaining the form, creating bureaucratic load and costing additional costs involved in this requirement. As stated, all these requirements are expected to be canceled and replaced with the requirement of the manufacturer or exporter statement on the shipping invoice that the product meets the original rules of the agreement.

Minister of Economy and Industry, Eli Cohen: "This is an important step that reflects the Ministry's policy of simplifying trade and minimizing costs where possible ... Canceling the form will help reduce the total costs for the companies - exporters and importers. In all areas of trade and economy. We will continue to support the Israeli exporting companies, whether by increasing the aid tools, whether by expanding Israel's trade agreements or by obtaining concessions such as the latest easing, which can help and simplify trade for Israeli companies "

In 2016, Israel, the largest trading country with Israel, imported approximately $ 8 billion worth of goods and exported goods worth $ 17.6 billion.

The Customs Administration will exercise the arrangement as of 10.1 while maintaining a transition period in which it will still be possible to use source certificates, until 31 March 2018