Guatemala joins Regional Mutual Assistance Agreement of AEO programs

By Mayora IP

During the 133rd and 134th sessions of the Customs Cooperation, which took place at the headquarters of the World Customs Organization in Brussels, nine Latin American countries, among them Guatemala, signed a Regional Mutual Assistance Agreement of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programs.

Such mutual assistance agreement is a highly needed legal framework and investigative tool for national Customs to rely on joint works and keep pace with the continuous growth in the volume and complexity of international trade. One of the main benefits of AEO programs is the facilitation of legitimate regional trade, by ensuring the security of regional trade, the exchange of information between Customs Administrations, simplifying Customs procedures and streamlining the clearance of goods. 

The new agreement, signed on July 2, 2019, seeks the optimization of resources and their alignment with international trends to reduce or eliminate the need of a series of bilateral negotiations and associated administrative costs, thus contributing to the commercial and economic integration of the region. The achievement of a agreement of Latin America will generate regional competitiveness.