WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the European Union Taxation and Customs Union Directorate agreed to language for the U.S.-EU Mutual Recognition Decision today which will lead to its signing in the Spring of 2012. Once signed, the Mutual Recognition Decision will recognize the respective trade partnership programs of the U.S. and the EU-CBP's Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism and the EU's Authorized Economic Operator-with reciprocal benefits.
"The U.S. and the European Union are one step closer to a mutual recognition decision that will facilitate trade while increasing security of the global supply chain," said CBP Assistant Commissioner Thomas Winkowski.
In 2007, CBP and TAXUD initiated efforts to implement Mutual Recognition between C-TPAT and AEO. Mutual Recognition is an industry partnership program that creates a unified and sustainable security posture that can assist in securing and facilitating global cargo trade. Upon achieving mutual recognition with a foreign partner, one program may recognize the validation findings of the other program.
C-TPAT is a voluntary government-business initiative to build cooperative relationships that strengthen and improve overall international supply chain and U.S. border security. C-TPAT recognizes that U.S. Customs and Border Protection can provide the highest level of cargo security only through close cooperation with the ultimate owners of the international supply chain such as importers, carriers, consolidators, licensed customs brokers, and manufacturers. CBP currently has mutual recognition with: New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Korea and Jordan.