The Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing and ratification of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) between the Central Board of Indirect taxes and Customs (CBIC), Department of Revenue, Government of India and the Department of Home Affairs incorporating the Australian Border Force, Australian Government.

The arrangement is aimed at providing reciprocal benefits to accredited and trusted exporters of both the signatories in the clearance of goods by the Customs authorities of the importing country. Mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operators is a key element of the World Customs Organisation’s SAFE Framework of Standards to secure and facilitate global trade to strengthen end-to-end security of supply chains while providing higher facilitation to trade at the global level. This arrangement shall benefit our exporters to Australia and thereby promote a trade relationship between the two countries.

Mutual Recognition of the Australian Trusted Trader Program in Australia and the Authorized Economic Operator Program in India shall enter into force from the date of signing by the authorized representatives of both the countries. The text of the proposed Mutual Recognition Arrangement has been finalized with the concurrence of the Customs Administrations of both the countries.

Mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operators boosts reciprocal customs facilitation and supply chain security between India and Australia. Approval is granted for a Mutual Recognition Arrangement between India and Australia recognising Australia's Trusted Trader Program and India's Authorized Economic Operator Program to provide reciprocal customs facilitation and expedited clearance for accredited exporters, consistent with the WCO SAFE Framework; the arrangement enters into force upon signature by authorised representatives and has been finalised with concurrence of both customs administrations.