On June 26, the U.S. and Japan signed a mutual recognition on Security Standards in Brussels, Belgium. The arrangement will now recognize Japan’s Authorized Economic Operator program (AEO) and the U.S. Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program (C-TPAT).

US Customs Border Patrol (CBP) and Japan Customs and Tariff Bureau (CTB) will accept and recognize the security standards for all members of both C-TPAT and AEO programs. This will now result in fewer cargo exams, quicker releases and less paperwork.

All existing C-TPAT members will now have an additional benefit by being able to have their shipments to/from Japan recognized and treated with special privileges.

If you are already a C-TPAT member, we strongly recommend you to encourage your business partners in Japan (suppliers, customers, customs brokers, warehouse operators and freight forwarders) to join AEO.

The benefits received by joining will be:

- Shipments will get out of Japan faster with significantly less paperwork resulting in expedited shipments and cost reduction

- Shipments will go to Japan faster with significantly less paperwork resulting in expedited shipments and cost reduction

- Your AEO business partners in Japan will automatically meet all supply chain security obligations and responsibilities

- Reduce U.S. Customs validation visits in Japan

If you are not enrolled in C-TPAT but your business partner in Japan is an AEO member, this is a great opportunity for you to consider joining C-TPAT and enhance the efficiency and security of your supply chain.

C-TPAT currently has mutual recognition agreements with Jordan, Canada, New Zealand and now Japan.

To learn more about how to become a member of the AEO and C-TPAT program, please contact us at (619) 671-0376 or to visit our website please click here.