The customs of Latin America and the Caribbean signed an Action Plan towards the Regional Mutual Recognition Agreement on Authorized Economic Operators (AEO), last Thursday (27.06.201), in Brussels.
Within the framework of the 133rd and 134th Sessions of the Council of the World Customs Organization (WCO), representatives of the Customs Administrations of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay signed the Action Plan towards the Regional Mutual Recognition Agreement Regarding Authorized Economic Operators (AEO), the statement from the National Customs Directorate of Uruguay states.
The initiative for the establishment of a Regional Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) is led and promoted by the Uruguay Customs together with other customs administrations with the The aim is to ensure high levels of customs security throughout the supply chain of goods, as well as to promote the harmonization and standardization of processes linked to the AEO Programs.
This MRA seeks to optimize resources, aligning ourselves with international trends in MRA negotiation to reduce or eliminate the need for a series of bilateral negotiations and the administrative costs associated with them, thus contributing to the commercial and economic integration of the region.
The signed Action Plan provides a framework for activities that include the theoretical comparison of the OAS Programs, the implementation of joint validation visits in the different countries participating in the project, as well as activities aimed at establishing the procedures necessary for granting benefits, mechanisms for the exchange of information, as well as the final drafting of the ARM, its implementation and monitoring.
Background
The launch of the agreement initiative took place in November 2017, within the framework of the event organized by PROCOMEX “International Seminar on OAS Programs in the Southern Cone” in which representatives of eight of the Customs Administrations of the Region participated.
In June 2018, in the city of Brussels, Belgium, the Directors of thirteen Customs Administrations of the Region signed a Letter of Intent with the purpose of formalizing their willingness to be part of this project for the mutual recognition of the AEO Programs between the Customs of the region.
Subsequently, on November 26 and 27, 2018, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, conferences were held related to the OAS Programs of the countries of America and their necessary integration to strengthen the security of the international supply chain of goods, promote the competitiveness of operators in the region and facilitate intraregional trade.
At the same time, the first working meeting was held between the Directors of the Customs of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay. As a result of the work, the Directors signed the “Sao Paulo Declaration”, where they reiterated their commitment and willingness to move forward with the project and reaffirmed the importance of mutual recognition of the AEOs as an instrument for integration and facilitation, in the interest of safer and more agile trade.
Customs of America and the Caribbean sign Action Plan within the framework of a Regional MRA
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