Authorized Economic Operator Programs
In the Islamic Countries:
Enhancing Customs-Traders Partnership
5
Table 1.1. Discrepancies in the Naming of AEOs and CCPs
Authorized Economic Operator Programs Custom Compliance Programs
Customs System of Reliable Operators
Argentina
AEO Program
Bolivia
Partners in Protection
Canada
AEO Program
Algeria
Customs Facilitation Program for Reliable Trade
Costa Rica
AEO Program
Iran
Qualified Economic Operator
Uruguay
AEO Program
Mauritius
CTPAT
USA
AEO Program
Mozambique
Golden List Program
Jordan
AEO Program
Kazakhstan
Australian Trusted Trader
Australia
AEO Program
Russia
Secure Exports Scheme
New Zealand
Secure Trade Partnership
Singapore
Trans-Kalahari Accreditation Scheme
Botswana
Source: Authors’ compilation using WCO (2018).
The WCO Compendium (2018) clearly differentiates CCPs from AEOs. The WCO defines CCP as
a Customs facilitation program that requires an operator to sustain an appropriate record of
compliance with Customs requirements, a reasonable scheme for managing commercial
records and financial solvency.
The main difference between the SAFE AEO Program and a CCP stems from the fact that
security requirements such as those prescribed in Annex IV of the SAFE 2015 are not
particularly included in a CCP. Moreover, different from the SAFE AEO Program, a CCP does not
have to have common specified criteria and standards. Therefore,
bilateral/plurilateral/regional mutual recognition of CCPs could be more challenging.
To be precise, in the WCO SAFE context, one can consider a CCP as a stepping stone to the SAFE
AEO program. In other words, unless an operator in the supply chain complies with all the
requirements of the SAFE Framework, it cannot be granted the SAFE AEO status.
1.1.4. WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation
Another related initiative is the successfully concluded negotiations on the Agreement on
Trade Facilitation (TFA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in December 2013. The TFA
entered into force in February 2017, following its ratification by two-thirds of the WTO
membership.