China Achieves AEO Mutual Recognition With 10 APEC Member Economies

China Customs has achieved Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) mutual recognition with 10 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies, according to an APEC seminar held in Dalian. Official customs figures show that from January through July, trade by certified Chinese AEO enterprises reached 16.76 trillion yuan, representing 44.2 percent of the country's total foreign trade volume. China currently leads globally in the total number of signed and implemented AEO mutual recognition agreements.

AEO mutual recognition streamlines cross-border customs procedures, providing certified trading companies with expedited clearance and reduced logistics costs. Expanding these agreements across the Asia-Pacific region helps lower transaction expenses and strengthen regional supply chain connectivity.

China Customs has established Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) mutual recognition with 10 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies, officials announced at a specialized APEC seminar in Dalian, according to a report by People's Daily. All APEC member economies, with the sole exception of Papua New Guinea, have formally established and implemented their own AEO frameworks. The AEO system, developed and promoted under the auspices of the World Customs Organization (WCO), is designed to enhance global supply chain security while facilitating legitimate international commerce, serving effectively as an expedited credential for cross-border traders. Official customs statistics indicate that certified Chinese AEO enterprises conducted 16.76 trillion yuan in total imports and exports between January and July. This figure represented 44.2 percent of China's aggregate foreign trade over the seven-month period, marking an increase of 5.77 percentage points compared to the same timeframe in the previous year. To date, China Customs has signed a total of 34 AEO mutual recognition agreements covering 60 countries and regions. Of these, practical implementation of mutual recognition has commenced with 53 partner jurisdictions. According to Chinese customs authorities, China ranks first globally in the cumulative number of signed agreements, the total number of partner countries and regions covered, and the number of agreements currently in active implementation. Under these bilateral and multilateral arrangements, certified enterprises operating in mutual recognition partner jurisdictions benefit from reciprocal customs facilitation measures. These benefits include reduced physical inspection rates, priority cargo clearance processing, and access to designated customs liaison officers, which collectively reduce port dwell times and overall trade logistics expenses.