The customs authorities of eleven countries in the Americas and the Caribbean signed on Wednesday (18.05.2022/XNUMX/XNUMX) in Brazil, Regional Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) of the figure of the Authorized Economic Operator (OAS), a pioneer in generating a space for cooperation to strengthen legitimate trade.
According to the Regional Vice Presidency of the World Customs Organization (WCO), the signatory administrations were Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic and Uruguay.
The AEO figure is one of the most important mechanisms that customs have for the benefit of legitimate trade and the security of the logistics chain. In this regard, the statement indicated that "the ARM is a tool that will offer oropportunities and benefits of regional scope, such as a competitive advantage for actors in the logistics chain authorized under the OAS figure to obtain preferential treatment when importing and exporting to and from the signatory countries."
The text also stated that "the signing of the ARM demonstrates compliance with the actions of Pillar 1 of the WCO SAFE Regulatory Framework, in its relationship Customs-Customs”. In this regard, it should be noted that the SAFE Framework provides customs administrations with a procedural model and a set of standards to facilitate the movement of goods through secure international trade supply chains, based on cooperation agreements between border agencies and between them and the private sector.
In this regard, the official text indicated that the signed MRA is part of the actions of the work plan of the WCO Regional Vice-Presidency for the Americas and the Caribbean.
Achieving compatibility and mutual recognition of AEO programmes essentially involves harmonising and simplifying customs procedures, which contributes to trade facilitation and the security of the logistics chain, as well as to improving coordinated border management and a common understanding of regional problems and challenges.
Related to the above, the statement highlighted that “Customs of the Americas and the Caribbean reaffirm the importance of the MRA as an instrument for integration and facilitation"Therefore, they reiterate their commitment and willingness to move forward with projects that contribute to strengthening safer and more agile trade in the region," he concluded.
The Regional Mutual Recognition Agreement began in 2018 with the Sao Paulo Declaration and required the commitment of all to take final form and ensure alignment in border legal procedures.
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