2026 C/O Procedure Update: Considerations for Businesses with Export Activities

Information Announced in April

In information dated April 13, 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Trade stated that it had announced amendments and supplements to 36 import-export administrative procedures, primarily related to C/O. The source states that the decision takes effect from May 1, 2026. The scope includes multiple certificate forms under agreements and circumstances such as reissuance, retrospective issuance, and back-to-back issuance.

This is a procedural update under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, focused on exporting businesses. The announcement does not state changes to C/O issuance procedures in China for goods imported into Vietnam, nor does it establish tariff preferences for all transactions with a C/O.

Identify the Documentation That Needs Updating

Editorial recommendation: businesses that both import materials and export finished products should separate their documentation lists by the direction of goods flow. A set of documents used to purchase materials may provide input data, but should not automatically be considered a sufficient file for applying for certification of exported finished products.

Three Internal Process Review Points

1. Clearly record the destination market, the agreement intended for use, the certificate type, and the issuance scenario being requested. Refer this question to the origin point of contact before selecting a form; avoid using a form from an old shipment with a different market or circumstance.

2. Check who holds the material, production, and delivery data. Prepare a list of documents currently available, items that need to be added, and the person responsible for confirmation. When the purchasing department changes suppliers or materials, notify the person responsible for origin before finalizing the file.

3. Keep the version of the guidance used together with the verification date and receiving point of contact. If information needs to be amended after commercial documents are prepared, track the change across the entire document set so that two different descriptions do not exist for the same shipment.

Do Not Turn Procedural Reform into a Delivery-Time Commitment

An official source stating an objective of simplification is not sufficient for a business to promise customers a fixed issuance time. Internal data completion, application submission, and result receipt milestones should be kept separate. The above steps are work-organization methods recommended by the editorial team; documentation components and origin conditions must still be checked against the specific procedure at the time of implementation.