Industry News

Courtney Agencies Ltd. provides a weekly industry news update to its clients.

Please click here to receive this update by email.

July 2, 2010

Canada and Japan, Singapore, South Korea mutually recognize importers programs

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced that it has signed three Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) with customs organizations in Japan, Singapore and South Korea. The new arrangements will promote a smarter, more secure and efficient border.

The signing took place at the World Customs Organization in Brussels, Belgium. The MRAs confirm that Japan, Singapore and South Korea are using criteria similar to those used by Canada's Partners in Protection (PIP) program when granting companies membership to their respective cross-border programs: Japan's Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, Singapore's Secure Trade Partnership program and South Korea's AEO program.

This has been accomplished two years after strengthening the PIP program and signing the first MRA with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Program.

"The signing of these three arrangements is an excellent opportunity for Canada to further develop its trade relationships with Japan, Singapore and South Korea," said Stephen Rigby, President of the CBSA. "This will provide Canadian companies greater facilitation in these key foreign markets, while further ensuring the security of the supply chain."

This international cooperation will allow customs agents to focus their efforts on unknown or high-risk areas.