Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA)
Business Impact
What an MRA means for your company
MRAs create operational benefits in two directions — for your exports to partner countries and for how you manage CTPAT compliance assessments of your foreign business partners.
For your exports
- Your exports to an MRA partner country receive priority processing by that country's customs — the same benefit your partners get when exporting to the U.S.
- CTPAT certification is treated as equivalent to the partner's AEO program, resulting in reduced physical inspections and expedited cargo release.
- MR is based solely on security criteria. It does not waive other CBP-mandated requirements such as the 10+2 ISF or 24-hour advance cargo declaration.
For your business partners
- If a foreign supplier is AEO-certified under an MRA program, that certification satisfies your CTPAT business partner requirement — no separate compliance assessment is required.
- You must still verify their certification — via the AEO registry of that country or by requesting their certificate directly.
- Verification must be monitored on an ongoing basis. A lapsed or revoked certificate no longer satisfies the requirement.
Partner Countries
The 19 U.S. MRA partner countries
CBP has signed 19 MRAs covering 45 countries. Listed in chronological order of signing date per the official CBP FAQ (July 2025).
| Country | Date Signed | Partner Administration & Program | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2007 | New Zealand Customs Service — Secure Export Scheme (SES) | Active | |
🇨🇦Canada | June 2008 | Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) — Partners in Protection (PIP) | Active |
🇯🇴Jordan | June 2008 | Jordan Customs Department — Golden List Program | Active |
🇯🇵Japan | June 2009 | Japan Customs and Tariff Bureau — AEO Program | Active |
🇰🇷Korea | June 2010 | Korean Customs Service — AEO Program | Active |
| May 2012 | European Union — AEO Program (covers all 27 member states) | Active | |
🇹🇼Taiwan | November 2012 | Directorate General of Customs, Taiwan Ministry of Finance — AEO Program | Active |
| * Signed between the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States. | |||
🇮🇱Israel | June 2014 | Israel Tax Authority — AEO Program | Active |
🇲🇽Mexico | October 2014 | Tax Administration Service (SAT) — AEO Program (NEEC) | Active |
| December 2014 | Singapore Customs — Secure Trade Partnership (STP) Program | Active | |
| December 2015 | General Customs Administration — AEO Program | Active | |
🇵🇪Peru | September 2018 | National Superintendency of Customs and Tax Administration (SUNAT) — AEO Program | Active |
| January 2021 | His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) — AEO Program | Active | |
🇮🇳India | September 2021 | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) — AEO Program | Active |
🇺🇾Uruguay | July 2022 | National Customs Directorate of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay — Qualified Economic Operator Program | Active |
🇧🇷Brazil | September 2022 | Special Secretariat of the Federal Revenue — AEO Program | Active |
| April 2023 | Superintendence of Tax Administration of Guatemala (SAT) — AEO Program | Active | |
🇨🇴Colombia | April 2023 | Special Administrative Unit — Directorate of National Taxes and Customs (DIAN) — AEO Program | Active |
| June 2025 | South African Revenue Service (SARS) — AEO Program | Active | |
Currently in negotiations toward an MRA with CBP
🇦🇺
Australia
In negotiations
🇸🇻
El Salvador
In negotiations
🇸🇦
Saudi Arabia
In negotiations
🇲🇾
Malaysia
In negotiations
Eligibility
Prerequisites for achieving MR with the U.S.
Four conditions must be met before CBP will formally begin MR discussions with a foreign customs administration.
Prerequisite 1
The customs administration must have a full-fledged, operational AEO partnership program — not a program in development or a pilot.
Prerequisite 2
The AEO program must have a strong validation process built into its structure for certifying members.
Prerequisite 3
The AEO program must have a strong security component. Compliance-only programs are not eligible for MR consideration.
Prerequisite 4
A Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA) must be in place and in force between the foreign country and the United States.
Benefits
Benefits of mutual recognition
Both customs administrations and the private sector benefit from a mutual recognition arrangement.
Efficiency
CTPAT may not need to send staff overseas to validate a facility already certified by a foreign AEO program with an active MRA.
Risk assessment tool
The certified status of a foreign AEO program participant is recognized by CTPAT and factored directly into CBP's risk assessment.
Less redundancy
Foreign companies avoid duplicate validation visits. The initial validation by the local customs administration can be recognized as a CTPAT validation where an MRA is in force.
Common standard
Since MR is based on equivalent minimum-security criteria, a CTPAT company essentially complies with the security standards of all 19 MRA partner countries.
Trade facilitation
More timely customs release reduces "ship-to-shelf" times and lowers costs for both government and business through fewer redundant validations.
Transparency
Closer collaboration between customs administrations and their AEO members increases transparency in international commerce and expedites cargo movement across borders.
Global Landscape
Global supply chain security programs
The WCO SAFE Framework (adopted June 2005) has driven AEO-type programs in 80+ countries. Programs marked with a gold dot (●) have an active MRA with CBP. Country names link to each program's official website.
Central America & Caribbean
Colombia — OEA
Costa Rica — OEA
Dominican Rep. — OEA
Guatemala — AEO-GT
Honduras — OEA
Panama — OEA
South America
Argentina — SAOC
Bolivia — OEA
Brazil — OEA
Chile — OEA
Ecuador — OEA
Paraguay — OEA
Peru — UAC-OEA
Uruguay — OEC
Asia
China — AEO
Hong Kong — AEO
India — AEO
Indonesia — MITA
Japan — AEO
Korea — AEO
Malaysia — AEO
Philippines — AEO
Singapore — STP
Taiwan — AEO
Thailand — AEO
● Gold dot = active MRA with CBP/CTPAT as of July 2025 · Country names link to each program's official website (opens in new tab)
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Sourced directly from the CBP CTPAT Mutual Recognition FAQ (July 2025).
Why is it called an "arrangement" and not an "agreement"?
CBP uses "arrangement" as the proper legal mechanism to achieve mutual recognition. Arrangements fall under the umbrella of existing Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements (CMAAs). They are non-binding documents which allow for flexibility and take less time to process and sign into action than formal treaties or agreements.
Does MR cover customs compliance, or only security?
MR is based solely on security. It is based on foreign customs partnership programs having similar security criteria, standards, and verification procedures as CTPAT. CTPAT members engaged in fraud or serious customs violations (undervaluation, misclassification, incorrect declarations) can still be suspended or removed from CTPAT regardless of any MRA.
If my foreign supplier is AEO-certified, do I still need to conduct a CTPAT Compliance Assessment?
No — if your supplier is certified under an AEO program with an active MRA with CBP, their certification satisfies your CTPAT business partner requirement. You do not need to conduct a separate compliance assessment. However, you must verify their current certification status (via the country's AEO registry or by requesting their certificate) and document it. Ongoing monitoring is required.
Does MRA exempt me from CBP's 10+2 / ISF or 24-hour advance cargo declaration?
No. Mutual recognition does not exempt any partner — domestic or foreign — from complying with other CBP-mandated requirements. Importers must still submit the ISF/10+2 data electronically to CBP 24 hours prior to lading. MR also does not replace any of CBP's cargo enforcement strategies.
Will my supplier receive fewer validation visits if they are in an MRA country?
Most likely, yes. Companies certified by a foreign AEO program with an active MRA will probably receive fewer CTPAT validation visits. However, CBP reserves the right to visit members and foreign suppliers certified under MRA programs. Foreign customs administrations may also be invited to participate in CTPAT validation visits to exchange best practices.
My supplier is in a country with a WCO SAFE program but no MRA — what applies?
If the country has no active MRA with CBP, the supplier's AEO certification does not satisfy your CTPAT business partner requirement. You must conduct a standard CTPAT Compliance Assessment for that supplier regardless of their domestic program certification status.
Does CBP plan to sign additional MRAs?
Yes. CBP is currently working with Australia, El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia toward mutual recognition. CBP is also engaging other customs administrations to begin preliminary negotiations.
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