On October 21, 2023, the Customs Credit Supervision Policy Promotion Conference for Enterprises took place in Dongguan, organized by the General Administration of Customs and co-hosted by the Huangpu Customs and the Dongguan Municipal Government. This conference aimed to facilitate trade, enhance corporate competitiveness, and attracted over 300 companies in-person, with nearly 10,000 participating online.
The conference introduced the concept of AEO, or Authorized Economic Operator, which is a core system under the World Customs Organization’s “Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade.” The AEO program seeks to promote the safety of global supply chains and streamline trade through collaboration among customs authorities, businesses, and other government departments. Companies certified by customs can benefit from preferential measures granted by customs authorities in different countries. Since signing its first mutual recognition agreement in 2012, Chinese customs have signed AEO mutual recognition agreements with 28 economies, covering 54 countries and regions.
As of September 2023, there are 6,043 AEO-certified enterprises in China, marking an 11.89% increase year-on-year. Specifically, the Huangpu Customs area has 280 AEO enterprises, which accounted for an impressive 53.77% of the total foreign trade value within that area during the first three quarters of the year, amounting to 622.746 billion yuan.
The General Administration of Customs has implemented 45 facilitation measures for AEO enterprises, including prioritizing processing, reducing inspection frequencies, and lowering customs clearance costs. These measures align with international standards, putting China’s AEO enterprise benefits among the most comprehensive globally.
One of the key players in this sector is Dongguan Lian Yi Da Supply Chain Management Co., located in the Dongguan Humen Port Comprehensive Bonded Zone. The company’s General Manager, Wen Jinbo, highlighted the importance of AEO certification: “Since we received AEO certification, our brand recognition and core competitiveness have significantly improved, leading to increased acknowledgment from foreign clients.”
The event not only focused on promoting the AEO system but also addressed the specific concerns of businesses. Experts from the customs system provided in-depth insights into topics of interest, including the AEO system, standards for AEO enterprises, tax-related declaration norms, proactive disclosure policies, and facilitation measures for AEO businesses.