On 24 June 2010, the European Union and Japan signed a Decision simplifying and expediting customs procedures for certified trustworthy traders between both sides. The Decision establishes the mutual recognition of Authorised Economic Operators (AEOs), which allows these operators to benefit from enhanced trade facilitation procedures and enables customs to concentrate on high-risk transactions. This mutual recognition also helps to establish compatible standards for AEOs between both sides and helps promote more harmonised customs practices and procedures worldwide, to the benefit of businesses trading at international level.
Over the years, JBCE has called for the mutual recognition of AEOs programmes as one of the key policy recommendations to the EU via the annual “Report of JBCE”.
Koki Nagaoka, JBCE Secretariat