In the framework of the International Customs Day, celebrated every January 26, the Association of Professional Customs Agents of the Americas (ASAPRA), through its president Nelson Rafael Brens Castillo, offered a message on the networks highlighting the essential role of customs brokers in the construction of an efficient, safe and prosperous international trade.
Below we reproduce the full official text of the message:
Ladies and gentlemen, members of ASAPRA,
Today, as we commemorate January 26, International Customs Day, and in line with the WCO's 2025 campaign, “Customs Fulfilling its Commitment to Efficiency, Security and Prosperity”, we reaffirm something fundamental: what we do as customs brokers is not just facilitating trade. It is giving order to the complex system of global trade. It is being the point of balance between interests, regulations and opportunities.
Because our work goes beyond documents or procedures. In a world where supply chains are increasingly interlinked and challenging, we We are the ones who bring clarity to chaos. We are the ones who guarantee that operations flow smoothly. efficiency, that the regulations are complied with security,and that the results are predictable, generating confidence in each link of this global chain. And we always do so with an unwavering commitment to the respect for national sovereignty and its regulatory frameworks.
But real progress does not happen in isolation. It is not the work of a single sector or a single entity. It is the result of collaboration, from the joint work between the public sector, private sector and academia. And that's where the ASAPRA and its members They have a unique and irreplaceable role.
Because the customs broker is not just a facilitator. It is abridge builder. It is who weaves trust between those who legislate, those who supervise and those who produce. And by promoting Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) and systems such as the One-Stop Shops, we do not just reduce technical barriers. We are unifying processes, reducing uncertainties and ensuring that global trade advances with transparency and balance.
Now, let's talk about security. Not the security that is measured only at borders or inspections. Let's talk about a deeper security: economic security. The certainty that the rules are followed. That economies will not be undermined by illicit trade. That supply chains will be whole and reliable.
And when we manage to unite efficiency, safety and predictability, something powerful happens:
Economies are growing. Opportunities are expanding. Jobs are multiplying. And international trade is no longer a simple exchange of goods but a true tool for progress and enrichment of national economies, able to reduce inequalities and strengthen opportunities for all.
This motto of the OMA It is not just a statement of principles. It is a reflection of what we already do. Because when the ASAPRA and its members act with professionalism, ethics and collaboration, that safe, efficient and prosperous trade that we all aspire to is not just an ideal: it is a reality within our reach.
So this is our calling. This is our responsibility. And together, with the Customs administrations, the private sector and academia, and with a non-negotiable commitment to national sovereignty, We can not only imagine a better future. We can lead it. And we will.
Thank you so much.
Aduana News is the first Argentine customs newspaper to launch its digital version. With 20 years of experience, its publications and initiatives aim to provide the most relevant knowledge on customs issues in order to contribute to safe trade in the region.
