What is meant by country in merchandise trade statistics?

For import statistics, the countries in DataWeb are the “Country of origin,” as reported to CBP. The country of origin does not change for a product that is processed in a third country and/or shipped through a third country. The country of origin is a specific legal reporting requirement. The rules of origin requirements differ based on where the good was manufactured and on the product being reported. For example, paper that has been produced in Germany but cut to size in France could still be reported as country of origin Germany if that is what the country-of-origin reporting requirements are for that product. 

For export statistics, the countries in DataWeb are the country of ultimate destination where the goods will be consumed, further processed or manufactured, known at the time of exportation by the shipper. For example, if an exporter is transporting goods from the United States via truck to Guatemala, the country in export statistics will be identified as Guatemala even though the trucker first entered Mexico, and even if the trucker leaves the goods in Mexico for another carrier to complete the shipment down to Guatemala.