Customs: Towards safer trade between Canada and the EU - Main contents

European Commission

Press release

Brussels, 4 March 2013

Customs: Towards safer trade between Canada and the EU

Today the EU and Canada agree to cooperate more closely to ensure the security of their supply chains. An agreement will be signed at 1 p.m. today by His Excellency Mr. Rory Montgomery, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU and Mr Heinz Zourek, Director General of DG Taxation and Customs Union in the European Commission, and by His Excellency Mr. David Plunkett, Ambassador of Canada to the EU .

Algirdas Šemeta i, Commissioner responsible for Customs said: " In a globalised world with globalised trade, no country can ensure the security of their supply chain in isolation. International cooperation is essential to protect citizens' security while allowing the smooth flow of trade. This agreement with Canada will give us the tools to improve customs controls while cutting red tape for safe traders in both our territories".

The Agreement builds on the existing customs cooperation agreement with Canada and extends it to include supply chain security and related risk management matters. It will allow closer cooperation between the two parties, with a view to ensuring a high level of security while facilitating legitimate trade between the EU and Canada. Cooperation will include work towards mutual recognition of risk management techniques, risk standards, security controls, and trade partnership programmes (the EU Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) and Canada's Partners in Protection (PIP)).

The agreement will be concluded after the ratification process in the EU and Canada, which is expected to take place in the coming months, is completed.

Background

Cooperation between the European Union and Canada in the area of customs is based on the agreement on customs cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters that entered into force on 1 January 1998.

Today's agreement complements the customs cooperation agreement. It expands this cooperation by covering supply chain security and risk management.

For more details on EU customs cooperation agreements see:

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/common/international_affairs/third_countries/index_en.htm

For the website of Commissioner Šemeta see:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/semeta/index_en.htm