Colombia’s National Tax and Customs Directorate (DIAN) achieved a notable milestone in its commercial relationship with the People’s Republic of China by signing an Action Plan that marks the beginning of the process toward a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) between the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programs of both countries. This event took place on December 9, 2025, and was led by senior representatives from both customs authorities. Dian

The Action Plan seeks to lay the foundation for mutual recognition of the AEO programs of Colombia and China, with the objective of strengthening supply chain security and improving the facilitation of international trade operations. Dian

Importance of the Agreement

The significance of this potential agreement is supported by the participation of AEO-certified companies in bilateral trade. According to data reported by DIAN, from January to September 2025, 54.03% of Colombian exports to China — equivalent to USD 637.27 million — were managed by AEO operators, highlighting their relevance in the commercial exchange between the two economies. Dian

The expected outcomes of a Mutual Recognition Agreement for certified operators include:

• Enhanced economic efficiency through reduced time and costs related to customs controls.
• Lowering delays by decreasing or applying priority inspections and preferential treatment.
• Reduced cargo theft through improvements in security for both parties. Dian

Action Plan and Next Steps

As part of the agreed Action Plan, DIAN’s AEO Subdirectorate will conduct joint validation visits with officials from China’s Customs Administration. These visits are intended to demonstrate Colombia’s procedures for verifying compliance with the minimum security requirements necessary to grant AEO authorizations, representing a key step toward achieving a Mutual Recognition Agreement. Dian

This cooperation initiative represents a structured effort to facilitate trade operations for companies that both customs authorities recognize as reliable.