Printed circuit boards embedded in communication devices, unloading trucks and ship loaders serving port terminals, and transformers for overseas computing centers—these are just a few examples of "Made in China" products reaching global markets, supported by robust customs clearance, logistics, and credit systems.
Amid the risks and challenges facing global trade, how can foreign trade enterprises use credibility to unlock new development opportunities and bolster the resilience and economic vitality of the Asia-Pacific region? This year marks the "China Year" for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). On August 19, the APEC "Authorized Economic Operator" (AEO) thematic seminar, part of the third Senior Officials' Meeting series for 2026, was held in Dalian, Liaoning Province, drawing more than 120 representatives from customs authorities of 13 APEC economies, relevant international organizations, and AEO enterprises for in-depth discussions.
The AEO system, advocated by the World Customs Organization, is a certification scheme that grants preferential treatment—such as priority clearance, reduced inspections, and cross-border mutual recognition—to enterprises with high creditworthiness, legal compliance, and security standards. It is widely hailed as the "green pass" for international trade. Data released on August 19 shows that the vast majority of APEC economies have established and implemented AEO systems, with China having achieved AEO mutual recognition with 10 of them, including Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia.
In the first seven months of this year, more than 15,000 AEO enterprises in China accounted for 44.2% of the country's total import and export value, an increase of 5.77 percentage points compared to the same period last year. Among these, trade with other APEC economies grew by 21.87% year-on-year. "Faced with increasingly fierce industry competition, compliant operations and efficient customs clearance have become core elements for the survival and market expansion of foreign trade enterprises. AEO certification is a 'golden key' for law-abiding and creditworthy businesses," said Zhu Shanshan, deputy general manager of Jiangsu Huapeng Transformer Co., Ltd. Since passing customs AEO certification at the end of 2024, the company has seen significantly reduced inspection frequency and notably improved import and export clearance efficiency, saving valuable production and transportation time. "Especially in projects where some overseas customers offer varying daily 'early delivery bonuses,' clearance speed has translated into tangible market competitiveness," she added.
"Providing more conveniences for AEO enterprises and continuously enhancing their sense of benefits is an important part of China Customs' work," said Lin Jiantian, Director General of the Enterprise Management and Audit Department under the General Administration of Customs. Compared to regular enterprises, AEO enterprises enjoy an average inspection rate reduction of 20% and a 34% shorter average import clearance time. Customs authorities have also innovatively promoted joint incentives, helping AEO enterprises access "green channels" and streamlined procedures with market regulation and tax departments, as well as tangible financial benefits such as convenient settlement, fee reductions, and credit support from banks and other financial institutions, thereby expanding the policy effect of rewarding trustworthiness.
As a new round of technological revolution advances, China continues to deepen the integration of big data, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies with customs supervision, leveraging technology to accelerate the release of AEO benefits and support the steady improvement of APEC economic and trade cooperation. For instance, China Customs has developed an enterprise profiling system that uses big data algorithms to convert corporate compliance and import-export information into behavioral tags. Through more than 200 indicators across five major categories, it conducts credit assessments and has tagged nearly 3 million enterprises with over 800 labels, making their operational characteristics intuitively visible. Additionally, the "China Customs Credit Management Service Platform" allows enterprise personnel to consult policies, raise questions, and provide feedback to customs authorities with just a few taps on their mobile phones, without leaving their offices. More than 800 coordinators across the country's customs offices can typically respond within two hours.
International participants widely praised China's approach, noting that "the use of digital and intelligent technologies to enhance service efficiency is a valuable experience worth learning from." Brendan Pearce, Customs Counsellor at the New Zealand Embassy in China, said the meeting deepened participants' understanding of the advantages and benefits of AEO systems across different economies, helping to further consider how to empower enterprises through credibility and cultivate competitive advantages through technological innovation, contributing to the resilience of regional industrial and supply chains and digital transformation.
Since signing its first AEO mutual recognition agreement with Singapore in 2012, China has signed 34 AEO mutual recognition agreements covering 60 countries and regions, ranking first globally in the number of agreements signed, mutual recognition partners, and implemented arrangements, better supporting enterprises in enjoying global benefits. Lin Jiantian stated that AEO certification is crucial for maintaining the security and stability of supply chains. Using AEO cooperation as a link, China Customs will work with APEC member economies to build a more open, inclusive, and resilient Asia-Pacific trade ecosystem by expanding the scale of AEO enterprises, extending the list of convenience measures, broadening the scope of AEO mutual recognition, and enhancing its effectiveness.