The Certificate of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) is equivalent to a Golden Pass for international customs clearance. On August 17, Qingdao Customs set up its first AEO Demonstration Pilot Base in Rongcheng City, Shandong Province, and the AEO Certificates were awarded respectively to 7 local Advanced Certified Enterprises (ACEs). 

The Pilot Base is intended to foster and support good-credit enterprises on the basis of Customs cooperation with local government, thus helping such enterprises go global and get more competitive.

So far, China Customs has achieved AEO mutual recognition with 8 foreign economies and 35 foreign countries/regions, enabling China’s AEOs to enjoy the benefits granted by the countries/regions which signed AEO Mutual Recognition Arrangements/Agreements (MRAs) with China, including lower inspection rate, simplified examination of documents and designated Customs Coordinators to solve specific problems in the process of customs clearance.    

At present, Rongcheng City has 48  General Certified Enterprises (GCEs) and 7 ACEs; the export-import value of the 7 ACEs accounts for over 30% of the total of the City.