What the country sub-attribute does

The `country` sub-attribute tells Google which destination market a shipping service or rate applies to. If it is missing, misspelled, or not a supported country code, Merchant Center may reject the shipping value or fail to apply it to the intended market.

This is part of the `shipping` attribute, not a replacement for the target country configured for your product data source. Use the correct format for the feed type and the country where the offer can actually be delivered.

Use a valid country code

Provide the two-letter ISO 3166-1 country code in uppercase, such as `US`, `GB`, or `PL`. Do not enter a country name like `United States`, a currency code like `USD`, or a region name where the specification expects a country.

Check that the country is supported for the Merchant Center account and that the shipping service is configured for the same destination. A valid code can still be inconsistent if your data source targets a different market or your shipping settings do not cover it.

Check the syntax for your source format

In an XML feed, put the country inside the shipping element, for example `<g:shipping><g:country>US</g:country><g:price>6.99 USD</g:price></g:shipping>`. Use the namespace and sub-attributes required by your feed specification. Do not place `country` as a standalone product field.

Text feeds and API submissions represent grouped sub-attributes differently. Follow the format for the selected source rather than copying XML punctuation into a spreadsheet. If you provide multiple shipping destinations, create a complete shipping group for each destination instead of mixing countries and prices across rows.

Common causes of the error

Typical causes include an empty `country` field, a three-letter code, a localized country name, malformed delimiters, or a country value detached from its shipping price. A spreadsheet export may also add invisible spaces or convert codes unexpectedly.

Check the generated feed, not only the source spreadsheet. Verify capitalization, whitespace, XML namespaces, and whether the parser placed `country` inside the correct shipping group. Confirm that the price includes the matching currency.

Validate the shipping fix

Correct the mapping, regenerate the feed, and validate its structure before resubmitting it. In Merchant Center, confirm the product is eligible for the target destination and that shipping settings match the feed. Then review the processed attributes to ensure the country and price were accepted together.

Correct destination codes and grouped syntax make the shipping offer clear to Google and help prevent products from appearing in markets where the store cannot deliver.