The national directors of MERCOSUR Customs signed the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) of their Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programs on November 13, within the framework of the 6th International Seminar: “AEO Programs in the Americas: Coordinated Border Management”, held in São Paulo, Brazil.
The Agreement represents a step forward in the region in terms of the negotiation of multilateral MRAs, for the promotion of intraregional trade, and in order to advance in matters of security and customs facilitation of the bloc.
Background
Within the framework of the work carried out since the signing of the "Action Plan for the Mutual Recognition Agreement for the AEO Programs of the MERCOSUR States Parties" on the occasion of the 2s Meeting of TC No. XNUMX on Customs Affairs and Trade Facilitation held in Montevideo, Customs began to work and comply with each of the stages established in said Action Plan, aimed at the homologation of their AEO Programs in order to reach the signing of the aforementioned Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA).
These works involved carrying out joint actions by the States Parties of the bloc, such as:
- Verification of programs
- Comparison of the levels of demand expressed in the requirements of each program at a theoretical and regulatory level.
- Joint visits to countries to verify validation procedures and levels of requirements in practice
- Negotiation of benefits
- The scope of mutual recognition
Finally, it was concluded that the programs implemented in Mercosur are in accordance with the Regulatory Framework for Securing and Facilitating Global Trade (SAFE) of the World Customs Organization, and that the security requirements and criteria of the same are compatible and lead to equivalent results; therefore, having negotiated the benefits and text of the Agreement, it was signed.
The Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programs of the @mercosur https://t.co/IhQIAVIv2K pic.twitter.com/u3uxMxdIvx
— Uruguay Customs (@AduanaURU) November 18, 2019
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