Customs Director Dr. Eduardo Mallea participated in an event on International Trade at CAECE University, joined by speakers Lic. Alejandro Nicolás Terzian, Lic. María del Carmen Baratta, and Dr. Lorena Alé.

On Tuesday, September 17, a panel discussion titled "AEO: A Key Factor in Strengthening the Relationship Between Customs and Businesses" was held at the CAECE University auditorium, located at Av. de Mayo 866. The event was organized by the Department of Administration and Social Sciences.

Speakers included Dr. Eduardo Mallea, Director of Customs; Lic. Alejandro Nicolás Terzian, Head of International Trade & Customs Compliance, Regional Center of Excellence LATAM – BAYER; Lic. María del Carmen Baratta, Deputy Director of Customs Process Reengineering at the DGA; and Dr. Lorena Alé, specialist from the Operator Reliability Assessment Division at the DGA. The event was also attended by students and professors from the department’s degree programs, as well as professionals from the field of International Trade.

The panel introduced the new Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, which aims to monitor, manage, and oversee goods originating from abroad, while ensuring the security of the international logistics chain.

The event provided a space for discussion on the regulatory framework, minimum security requirements, the validation process for customs agent visits to companies, and the current benefits of the program for operators categorized as importers/exporters.

“Making the logistics chain safer for each operator and each company also means, for us in Customs, helping people feel safer in their daily work,” noted Dr. Alé.

“In this program, Customs doesn’t assume the traditional auditing role we’re all familiar with. Customs won’t conduct in-person visits to each facility looking for errors—based on complaints or to place the operator at a disadvantage. Instead, Customs becomes a strategic partner to the operator,” added Lic. Baratta.

“The AEO program is directly tied to customs compliance. It’s not something external, but rather a core part of what a reliability program represents, in coordination with the authorities,” said Lic. Terzian.