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EU and China sign the mutual recognition of authorized traders

June, 2014

It was signed an important trade agreement between EU and China for the mutual recognition of authorized traders, which should be given special benefit in trade, especially with regard to the simplification of customs procedures.

On the occasion of the meeting of the Joint Customs Cooperation Committee (Jccc ) it was signed in Beijing an important mutual recognition agreement between China and the EU, according to which accredited traders, European and Chinese, will enjoy, among other things, to reduce costs and simplified procedures in trade. The EU- China agreement represents a significant contribution to the promotion of a more harmonized approach to customs around the world. The status of authorized economic operator in the European Union (AEO - authorized economic operator) was launched in 2008 and recognizes the opportunity to benefit from simplified customs procedures for companies that prove to be safe, reliable and in accordance with certain safety standards. In particular, such companies suffer fewer controls on goods and are subjected to customs procedures and formalities faster than other operators. It is, of course, a condition that benefit companies, as goods can pass more quickly from one destination to another, reducing transport costs and permitting a more efficient trade.
“By agreeing to mutually recognise each other's safe traders, the EU and China are taking a big step forward in our trade relationship. Today's agreement is fully in the spirit of trade facilitation, by making customs procedures easier, cheaper and faster for our trusted operators”.

Algirdas Semeta

European Commissioner for Taxation and Customs

There are currently about 15,000 enterprises recognized as authorized economic operators in the EU. The EU is the biggest trading partner to enter into such an agreement with China. The importance of this mutual recognition agreement can be appreciated, as it deserves, taking into account that China is the main source of EU imports and has also become one of the fastest growing markets for EU exports; today, trade between China and Europe is well over € 1 billion a day. In 2013, EU exports to China have increased by 2.9% to € 148.100.000.000. The Customs play a crucial role in this trade relationship. During the Jccc meeting there were also signed two other initiatives: the first one is a new strategic commitment for customs cooperation , which defines the priorities and objectives for the EU-China cooperation; the second one is a new action plan EU -China on intellectual property rights, which aims to strengthen the fight against counterfeit goods by improving communication and coordination between the two economic actors (http://europa.eu).