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ISSA and Ship Supply News

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ver 800 delegates from to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade international trade is a priority for his

more than 90 countries (SAFE Framework). Under these agency. Mr Menéndez emphasised
attended the World Customs
programmes, economic operators who that with 579 authorised operators

demonstrate that they meet minimum responsible for 89% of export Organization’s (WCO) 2nd Global
standards and best practices are entitled declarations and 71% of import AEO Conference in Madrid, Spain,

to trade facilitation benefits.
declarations in Spain, the AEO from 28th-30th April 2014, which
Programme has become an important focused on engaging all relevant The conference provided

programme to achieve the goals of the stakeholders in discussions on the role government and trade representatives
Spanish Tax Agency.
of Customs-Business partnerships in the opportunity to discuss challenges

securing and facilitating global trade.
related to the implementation of such Addressing delegates, the Secretary
programmes, their impact on Customs General of the WCO, Kunio Mikuriya, As ISSA members know too well,

risk management practices, the stressed that Customs-Business building collaborative relationships with
participation of SMEs, as well as efforts partnerships were key to the growth of trusted traders is advantageous for

to encourage countries to mutually AEO programmes around the world, governments facing the challenge of

recognise each other’s validated with the added benefit of expediting growing trade volumes and increased
economic operators.
and aiding the successful security requirements – but the need to

implementation of the World Trade develop efficient cross-border processes The objective of the conference was
Organization (WTO) Agreement on that allow businesses to be more to create an open platform for

Trade Facilitation (ATF).
competitive is also advantageous.
businesses, Customs and other border
agencies to exchange ideas and share Delegates discussed Article 7.7 of Over the past decade, specific

their views on how to promote efficient the WTO ATF, which provides for an programmes have been put in place,
and secure supply chain management Authorized Operator scheme, similar to opening up a new chapter in traditional

which is vital to economic growth, the WCO’s AEO concept. As the ATF Customs-Business partnerships, namely
including economic competitiveness.
encourages WTO members to develop Customs compliance programmes and

Authorized Operator schemes on the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Opening the conference, the

basis of international standards, where programmes.
Director General of the Spanish Tax
such standards exist, the WCO pointed Agency, Santiago Menéndez, explained Customs compliance programmes

out that it may be appropriate to use its that the external sector has been focus on traditional Customs
AEO model as a standard to develop instrumental in recent years for the requirements, such as the payment of

the ATF Authorized Operator scheme, Spanish economy’s return to the path Customs duties, while AEO
as the use of AEO criteria to of recovery, and that creating an programmes include security

implement the Article will assist in environment of cooperation and requirements as prescribed in the
ensuring a harmonised approach and
mutual understanding that promotes
WCO SAFE Framework of Standards

48 The SHIP Supplier Issue 61 2014