U.S. & Korea Establish Mutual Recognition of Each Other's Cargo Security Programs (C-TPAT/AEO)

June 28, 2010

Korea and the United States  recently signed a mutual recognition arrangement that acknowledges the compatibility of the U.S.’ Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Korea’s Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) cargo security programs. Mutual recognition will allow companies of one supply chain security program to receive benefits identical or comparable to those conferred to companies participating in another supply chain security program.

Under the arrangement, the two countries will now accept the security status of members of each other’s security programs. As a result, the arrangement is expected to reduce the number of supply chain security validations each country’s customs service will have to conduct and reduce inspection delays for C-TPAT and AEO members.

The U.S. already has mutual recognition agreements with New Zealand, Canada, Jordan and Japan.