
EU Customs Reform
Explore the new EU Customs Reform updates on customs legislation and Import One Stop Shop (IOSS). Learn how PwC can help prepare you for custom tariff changes.
One of the key changes of the EU Customs Reform is the transformation of the current Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status with a new designation of Trust and Check Trader (T&C).
The T&C authorisation and the AEO certification are both mechanisms designed to facilitate trade and enhance security in the supply chain. However, they are distinct in their requirements and the benefits they confer upon traders.
As a reminder, the AEO certification can be obtained when specific criteria can be fulfilled including a history of compliance with customs regulations, appropriate professional qualifications, financial solvency and a high level of control over their operations and goods flow. This is achieved through effective management systems for commercial and, where necessary, transport records, enabling appropriate customs controls.
Once granted, this certification can provide the following benefits for the economic operators (among others):
According to the currently available draft documents underlying the EU customs reform project, the T&C Authorisation will envisage the following (among others):
While current AEOs have a foundational level of compliance and systems that may give them a transitional advantage, an AEO will not become a T&C trader automatically.
AEOs will need to meet the additional requirements specific to the T&C approach, particularly the implementation of an electronic system capable of interacting with customs systems for real-time data exchange. The transition to T&C status might require investment in technology and processes to meet the new standards of data provision and interaction with customs authorities.
In a nutshell, the T&C authorisation represents an evolution in this concept, introducing more stringent requirements and offering greater facilitation benefits. AEOs will not automatically become T&C traders; they must actively meet the additional criteria to qualify for this advanced status. The complexity of implementing the T&C requirements is beyond a simple upgrade and involves a significant commitment to enhancing systems and processes for real-time data sharing and analysis.
However, the T&C status also poses some challenges and costs for the economic operators, such as:
Explore the new EU Customs Reform updates on customs legislation and Import One Stop Shop (IOSS). Learn how PwC can help prepare you for custom tariff changes.
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Claudia Buysing Damsté
Partner, International Trade, Customs, Sustainable supply chains, PwC Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)65 103 04 63
Suzanne Bras
Senior Manager Customs & International Trade, PwC Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)65 395 86 76
Ekaterina Rassadkina
Senior Manager, Customs & International Trade, PwC Switzerland
Tel: +41 58 792 00 44