Marcela Garcia says that the World Customs Organization’s Approved Economic Operator (AEO) program is “here to stay” and that it is turning into a “business philosophy.” Garcia’s remarks were made during a video interview at AIAG’s Customs Town Hall in Livonia, Michigan, on November 17, 2015.

Garcia, dirección ejecutiva for Capítulo BASC Occidente De México, participated in the 2015 Customs Town Hall as part of a security panel discussion along with Paul Allen, manager, trusted traders, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and Cristobal Hernandez, supervisory supply chain specialist for Customs & Border Protection. Attendees learned about NAFTA security programs such as C-TPAT, PIP, and NEEC.

AEO is a standard term assigned by the WCO for supply chain security programs. These programs are structured within the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards to secure and facilitate global trade. The AEO program has been developing steadily since its inception, with more than 50 countries and 30,000 certified companies' operative AEO programs.

“AEO is becoming a philosophy because the program represents not only a time and cost reduction but also focuses on security,” said Garcia, adding that the security benefits include the employees and the company as well as domestic and foreign security.

Garcia noted that Mexico has 473 AEO-certified companies, which participate in the program because they feel “they are contributing to domestic security."

“The key to the future is prevention,” Garcia said in the interview. “It’s all about prevention. If something happens, the company’s image, money, and security is compromised, so preventing that justifies the cost.”

View full video below. 

Carla Kalogeridis is AIAG’s e-news editor. Save the date for AIAG’s next Customs Town Hall, November 15, 2016, at Laurel Manor in Livonia, Michigan.