AAEI Pushes for Trusted Trader Program, Supply Chain Security in EU-U.S. Agreement
An EU-U.S. trade agreement should have clear compliance measures and not leave industry arguing with customs officials about the “spirit” of the agreement after it’s finalized, said the American Association of Exporters and Importers. The international trade association, which represents all sectors of the industry, sent a letter requesting time for an oral statement at next month’s U.S.-EU High Level Regulatory Cooperation Forum open meeting (see 13030629).
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“All U.S. exporters must be able to take advantage of export opportunities under the free trade agreement,” said President Marianne Rowden in the letter. She recommended a handful of specific technical provisions be included in the deal, including the “trusted trader” concept. This would eliminate duplicative regulatory requirements, she said, by allowing companies in compliance with each country’s regulatory regime to be labeled “low risk.” This concept of mutual recognition should also extend to companies that invest in supply chain security programs; a provision that would build trade facilitation benefits directly into the agreement, Rowden said.
“Inclusion of this provision in the agreement would generate enormous support from the business community because it provides immediate tangible benefits without any further implementation or rulemaking by customs administrations,” she said. The agreement should also boost supply chain security by writing in a “self-executing [Mutual Recognition Agreement] … without customs administration implementation,” Rowden said. These agreements would mimic those offered through the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism and the Importer Self-Assessment. (For more on U.S. negotiating objectives in the EU-U.S. agreement, see 13032105.)