TradeLane

AEO is a well-known regime in many countries, and not something new. But this program is continuously evolving to attract more potential participators.

The evolution is not only in regards to the benefits you can enjoy in South Korea, but also occurs in terms of the procedural aspects of obtaining and maintaining AEO accreditation and Mutual Recognition Agreements/Arrangements(MRAs).

AEO stands for Authorized Economic Operator, which is the collective name of high-credit enterprises certified by Customs around the world. You, as an importer and/or exporter, can also be an AEO participant in the international circulation of goods. In China, the official name of AEO is Advanced Certified Enterprise.

Customs Procedures become increasingly attractive to companies with higher exposure to duties as their business grows through expansion or as they try to enter new markets. Customs Procedures can greatly reduce the duty burden on a company, ensuring that duties are paid when goods are sold as opposed to when they are brought into the European Union or simply not paid because a destination outside the Union has been found for the goods.

The introduction of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program in the European Union in 2008 brought exponential growth in this supply chain security program that has slowed as it has matured and the pool of non-AEO traders has declined. That growth curve is documented in this EU AEO valid Authorizations per year chart.

Acquiring an authorization, or as some would say, a certification proves that you have mastered a particular ability. You have spent time studying, understanding, and developing a skill set and are now authorized to apply that skill. You work towards these certifications throughout your life -- be it your Boy/Girl Scout badges, school diplomas, or your driving license.