In the context of challenging situations such as the pandemic, which has negatively affected borders, international organizations are promoting cooperation with Central American companies to enhance the implementation of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program. For several years, this program has been adopted at the regional and global level, in a flexible and gradual manner, as a tool aimed at facilitating trade.
At the opening of the workshop “Advantages of the Authorized Economic Operator” carried out on Wednesday (10.03.2021), the Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), David Cosny, invited the private sector of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to value one of the most important figures in the facilitation of international trade and security of the logistics chain: “The Authorized Economic Operator helps to create a more transparent process to reduce trade risk and offers great advantages to companies. I encourage you to delve deeper into this. Thus, together we can transform the region, increase trade and have more opportunities for a better Central America.”.
For its part, Melvin Redondo, head of the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), He said that this organization supports the Central American Customs Committee to advance the figure of the AEO in the region. Currently, all Central American countries have implemented this concept at the national level.
"The Authorized Economic Operator is key to increasing the competitiveness of the private sector throughout the region and to promoting the modernization of the Customs Administration.” Redondo assured. And he emphasized: "This element is added to the strategy of the Central American integration process that promotes the coordination of public and private sector agencies to improve border security procedures and facilitate the transit of goods and people.".
In this regard, Werner Ovalle, the representative of the World Customs Organization for the Americas and the Caribbean, He explained the scope of the concept of Authorized Economic Operator, which has its origin in the WCO regulatory framework to ensure and facilitate global trade.
“The OAS is designed so that its benefits are directed to all operators in the logistics chainThe WCO supports the AEO because it generates a positive dialogue with the private sector that conducts legitimate trade through Customs, establishes operational, tax and legal benefits for companies that demonstrate compliance and promotes competitiveness.", Ovalle stressed.
He also made it clear that It is a new work philosophy which leads to the strengthening of the relationship between customs and the private operator, in order to secure and facilitate the logistics chain.
Currently, countries in the region have numerous authorized economic operators: 63 in Guatemala, 48 in Costa Rica, 27 in Panama, 4 in El Salvador and 1 in Honduras.
In addition, Ovalle explained the importance of the Mutual Recognition Agreements between customs They are an added value of the AEO programme in terms of mutual benefits. For companies, this means access to advantages in other customs offices and for the public sector, it means the materialisation of a mechanism for collaboration and cooperation between customs administrations. They exist at multilateral and regional levels.
Additionally, the topic of the pandemic was discussed and it was considered that the coronavirus crisis has left great lessons. The number one of the WCO Regional Office highlighted the importance of the cooperation and international coordination before the pandemic, reflected in Central American initiatives aimed at securing the logistics chain, facilitating trade, and promoting integration and regional exchange.
Ovalle said that it is worth maintaining this cooperation in order to improve the customs service for foreign trade operators during crises. However, he clarified that trade facilitation is not the exclusive responsibility of the customs sector, since the private sector must help promote and strengthen the secure logistics chain.
In 2015, Central American countries had already decided to give impetus to the process of establishing the Customs Union. In response, Ovalle said: “As Regional Vice-Presidency of the WCO, we reiterate our commitment to continue promoting initiatives and policies promoted by the region.”; Companies are now expected to make a cultural change in the organization with the figure of the authorized economic operator, to facilitate and ensure regional fair trade.
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