Press Release: Customs: Towards safer trade between Canada and the EU

The EU and Canada agree to cooperate more closely to ensure the security of their supply chains. An agreement was signed at 1 p.m. on 4 February 2013 by His Excellency Mr. Rory Montgomery, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU and Mr Heinz Zourek, Director General of DG Taxation and Customs Union in the European Commission, and by His Excellency Mr. David Plunkett, Ambassador of Canada to the EU.

The Agreement builds on the existing customs cooperation agreement with Canada and extends it to include supply chain security and related risk management matters. It will allow closer cooperation between the two parties, with a view to ensuring a high level of security while facilitating legitimate trade between the EU and Canada. Cooperation will include work towards mutual recognition of risk management techniques, risk standards, security controls, and trade partnership programmes (the EU Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) and Canada's Partners in Protection (PIP)).