Canada, Mexico sign mutual recognition arrangement

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has signed a Mutual Recognition Arrangement with the Tax Administration of the United Mexican States (SAT) that allows both countries to recognize each other's Trusted Trader members and facilitate border processes, according to CBSA Friday.

The arrangement was signed at the World Customs Organization Third Global Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) Conference in Cancun, Mexico Friday. It aligns with the World Customs Organization's SAFE Framework of Standards which establishes standards for globally integrated supply chain security and facilitation for all modes of transport.

As the third and final bilateral arrangement regarding AEOs to be signed between Canada, the United States and Mexico, it also provides North America-wide mutual recognition of trusted trader programs.

Following this signing, the CBSA and the SAT will continue to work towards implementation and a monitoring plan will be established to ensure the integrity of the arrangement.

Canada and Mexico are each other's third-largest trading partners, and bilateral trade between the two countries continues to grow annually.

In August 2014, the CBSA and the SAT signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to improve the efficiency of trade between both countries by strengthening collaboration on customs and border enforcement.

Up to date, the CBSA has signed five mutual recognition arrangements with other customs administrations, including the United States, Japan, Singapore and the Republic of Korea. Enditem