Chamber Applauds U.S.-EU Cooperation on Secure Trade

WASHINGTON, DC - The Chamber applauds the adoption of a roadmap towards Mutual Recognition of Trade Partnership Programs by the U.S.-EU Joint Customs Cooperation Committee (JCCC). Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and the EU's Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) are voluntary programs that aim to secure global supply chains of American and European markets. Given that the transatlantic relationship represents $600 billion in two way trade, the cooperation of customs officials is critical to security and undisrupted trade flows.

"Today's announcement of a roadmap toward AEO/CTPAT mutual recognition is a great example of how regulatory cooperation between the U.S. and EU can have a real positive impact on companies and consumers in the U.S. and Europe. The roadmap is the necessary first step to avoid the double cost of compliance with two programs, both designed to achieve the same high-level of security," said Dan Christman, SVP for International Affairs at the Chamber.

The Chamber welcomes the particular fact that the announcement included a commitment to provide C-TPAT participants with similar benefits to those enrolled in the EU's AEO program. Mutual recognition of these two programs has been on the regulatory cooperation agenda of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) which was created last year at the U.S.-EU Summit. The adoption of the roadmap comes a few weeks ahead of conclusions drawn from this U.S.-EU effort.

C-TPAT and AEO mutual recognition has been on the regulatory cooperation agenda of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) which was created last year at the U.S.-EU Summit.

"Today's announcement is further proof that the TEC process is working and holds tremendous potential to achieving concrete results," Christman added.

Broad cooperation between U.S. and EU regulators is one of the primary focuses of the Chamber's Global Regulatory Cooperation Project. Although a number of tasks remain, the business community is confident that a final mutual recognition agreement can be reached early next year.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation, representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

For more information on the Chamber's Global Regulatory Cooperation Project visit www.uschamber.com/grc

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