Customs has included cross-border e-commerce enterprises in the scope of credit management, and implemented differentiated customs clearance management measures based on the different credit ratings of enterprises. The assessment of corporate credit ratings is conducive to promoting the construction of a social credit system, and is conducive to promoting trade security and convenience. At the same time, the comprehensive implementation of the international mutual recognition and cooperation of “Authorized Economic Operators” (AEO) plays an important role in promoting the implementation of national policies such as the “Belt and Road” initiative and supporting enterprises to “go global”.
The full name of AEO in English is Authorized Economic Operator, which is “Authorized Economic Operator”. The World Customs Organization defines it as: a party that participates in the international circulation of goods in any way and is recognized by the customs to meet the World Customs Organization or equivalent supply chain security standards.
With the deepening of economic globalization, the globalized cargo transportation system closely links and integrates the supervision systems of customs in various countries, and the internationalization trend is becoming more and more obvious. “Speed” and “safety” have become the two major elements of international trade efficiency. A higher level of security can bring a more convenient trade order. In June 2005, the World Customs Organization formulated and adopted the “Standard Framework”. The Standard Framework states that there are two pillars to ensure the security of the supply chain – “cooperative arrangements between customs” and “partnership between customs and the business community”, and clearly defines the cooperative relationship between customs and enterprises as “partnership”.
The AEO system came into being and became an important part of the Standard Framework. The core of the AEO system is to establish an international enterprise identification system, which will include enterprises with high security in the supply chain. These enterprises benefit from this cooperative relationship and obtain benefits such as fast customs clearance or other convenient measures; at the same time, customs can use this to reduce regulatory risks, simplify procedures, improve the efficiency of customs clearance of low-risk goods, and facilitate international trade. The AEO system plays an important role in building a cooperative relationship between customs and the business community.
In 2008, my country’s customs promulgated and implemented the “Regulations on the Classification Management of Enterprises of the Customs of the People’s Republic of China” based on the “Standard Framework”, inheriting the principles and purposes of the “Standard Framework” to implement classified management of enterprises, changing the traditional customs’ single supervision of goods, and realizing a model of equal emphasis on goods and enterprise supervision. In March 2018, the “Regulations on the Credit Management of Enterprises of the Customs of the People’s Republic of China” promulgated by the General Administration of Customs Order No. 237 replaced the original “Regulations on the Classification Management of Enterprises of the Customs of the People’s Republic of China”, marking the initial establishment of my country’s AEO system. The enterprise certification work of the customs has become a test field for building a partnership between customs and enterprises. On September 13, 2021, the General Administration of Customs promulgated the “Credit Measures” of the General Administration of Customs Order No. 251, which will come into effect on November 1, 2021, and the “Regulations on the Credit Management of Enterprises of the Customs of the People’s Republic of China” will be abolished at the same time.