U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has signed a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) with the Customs Administrations of Guatemala and Colombia, according to an April 18 release. The MRA allows for exchanging membership information and recognizes the compatibility of the respective supply chain security programs.
The arrangement is based on the security requirements and verification procedures of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program, the release states.
"By cooperating with our regional partners through MRAs and other bilateral arrangements, we are able to create a unified and sustainable security posture," Pete Flores, Executive Assistant Commissioner for CBP Field Operations, said in a CBP release. "As a result, we are furthering our efforts to facilitate trade and enhance our economic security mission.”
The CTPAT is a voluntary public-private sector partnership program that aims to strengthen international supply chains' overall security and ensure trade facilitation. According to the release, the program recognizes that the highest level of cargo security can only be achieved through close cooperation between the principal stakeholders of the international supply chain, including importers, carriers, consolidators, licensed customs brokers, and manufacturers.
The agreement follows the customs administrations of Guatemala and Colombia's agreement on a Joint Work Plan (JWP) during the 2022 Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security Summit, the release states.
With this, the JWP lays out the path towards MRAs between the two customs administrations' Authorized Economic Operator programs, showing commitment from both programs and detailing the steps towards the MRA. The MRA is expected to strengthen and secure global supply chains while facilitating trade.
The meeting was hosted by Assistant Commissioner for International Affairs Debbie Seguin with guests Marco Livio Diaz Reyes, Superintendent of Guatemala’s Superintendencia de Administracion Tributaria, Ingrid Magnolia Diaz Rincon, Director for the Direccion de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales de Colombia, according to the release.