Mutual Recognition Arrangements
Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) provide benefits to Australian Trusted Traders in overseas markets where we have arrangements in place.
These arrangements give your goods priority treatment at the borders of our partner economies. They enable faster processing, which means more predictability, certainty, and distribution speed to overseas markets.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) has MRAs with:
- Canada Border Services Agency
- General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China
- Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department
- India's Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
- Directorate General of Customs and Excise, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia
- Japan Customs
- New Zealand Customs Service
- Republic of Korea Customs Service
- Singapore Customs
- Taiwan Customs Administration
- Thai Customs Department.
We continue to pursue MRAs with other trading partners.
Mutual Recognition Arrangement development
Since 2016 the ABF has negotiated 11 signed MRAs. This includes MRAs with seven of Australia’s top ten two-way trading partners. This has supported faster access to international markets with a combined total of $429 billion in two-way trade.*
Australian traders have benefited from the ABF’s growing MRA network. Benefits to industry include faster clearance times reducing storage-related costs, and more efficient dealings with overseas customs authorities.
An Australian exporter, Fulton Market Group, states:
“As an Australian Trusted Trader, we are automatically recognised under the Australia-Japan and Australia-Korea MRAs. Our customers in Japan and Korea are excited that this means that overseas customs agencies will prioritise clearance of our goods at their borders, meaning that our customers can receive their imports from us quicker.”
Authorised Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Arrangements
Establishing Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) MRAs with key trading partners is an important part of the work of the ABF. These arrangements benefit Trusted Traders as well as the Australian economy. They support global trade facilitation and help to strengthen supply chain security.
When considering a new AEO MRA partner, we look at factors including:
- value and volume of two-way trade
- delays experienced by traders at international borders
- bilateral trade interests.
A high degree of planning goes into each negotiation to ensure Australian businesses gain the most benefit.
To establish an AEO MRA potential partners must demonstrate a robust AEO program developed and maintained in accordance with the World Customs Organization (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade (SAFE Framework).
The SAFE Framework was developed by the WCO to secure and facilitate the international supply chain. It prescribes global baseline Customs standards through AEO programs.
Before an AEO MRA can be established the ABF must be assured that the program is compatible with the Australian Trusted Trader program. This includes its supply chain security obligations.
*Source: DFAT Trade and Investment at a Glance - 2021
