The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has introduced a new Open Application Programming Interface (API) facility that allows exporters to apply for Certificates of Origin directly through their existing business software. This streamlines a process that previously required separate data entry on the government platform.
What the new system offers
Exporters can now link their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), accounting or business management software directly to the DGFT’s Certificate of Origin system on the Trade Connect e-Platform. Instead of manually entering the same information twice, data can flow electronically from an exporter’s own systems to the government platform.
The facility supports both Preferential Certificates of Origin, issued under Free Trade Agreements, Regional Trade Agreements and Preferential Trade Agreements to claim tariff benefits in importing countries, and Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin, used for customs clearance and compliance purposes.
Three APIs have been made available. The Authentication Token API enables secure login, the Certificate of Origin File API allows submission of applications and receipt of certificates, and the Certificate Verification API lets users verify issued certificates. Exporters can track their applications through a transaction ledger showing the status at each stage: Draft, In Process, Approved, Certificate Issued or Rejected.
The system covers major trade partnerships including agreements with Japan, Korea, ASEAN, Singapore, Malaysia, Chile, Mercosur, the UAE, Australia, Oman, the EFTA nations and the UK. The framework automatically applies the correct fields, origin criteria and validation rules based on the agreement selected by the exporter.
Security measures include digital signatures using SHA-256 RSA encryption with 2048-bit X.509 certificates, password protection through PBKDF2 hashing, and access limited to IP addresses registered by the exporter. Access tokens remain valid for 60 minutes.
What this means for you
If you export goods, this facility reduces the time spent on paperwork by eliminating duplicate data entry and minimises errors in Certificate of Origin applications. The process becomes faster because information moves directly from your accounting system to the government portal. Technical help and a step-by-step manual are available on the Trade Connect e-Platform and through the DGFT Helpdesk.