The emphasis on "AEO" stood out at the meeting of the UYYS Association and BIFA.

UYYS ASSOCIATION - BIFA MEETING

As a delegation from the International Authorized Economic Operator Association (UYYSD), we paid a visit to the British International Freight Association (BIFA) in London on April 8–9.

BIFA is a leading trade association representing members based in the United Kingdom who provide international freight transport and/or customs clearance services using all modes of transport, including air, road, rail, and sea. As a non-profit organization, BIFA is funded by membership dues and governed by elected members. The association operates with a full-time secretariat.

According to the presentation, it was noted that BIFA has over 1,700 members—generally known as freight forwarders in the logistics and supply chain sector—who offer a wide range of services across various modes of transport. These members are organizations that transport cargo to and from the United Kingdom via four modes of transport. Some members also provide customs clearance and other cross-border services to their customers.

By representing its members before all key stakeholders and promoting the industry to future generations, the association ensures that today’s industry is prepared for tomorrow. The association offers its members a wide range of services, provides support through training and events, and keeps members informed about developments in the ever-changing fields of transportation, customs, and sustainability.

During the meetings between the UYYSD delegation and the BIFA delegations, discussions focused on accelerating the logistics flow between Türkiye and the United Kingdom, implementing customs regulations with fewer restrictions to enable the swift movement of goods within the supply chain, mutual recognition in AEO/YYS applications, the development of the Free Trade Agreement signed between Türkiye and the United Kingdom, and how to enhance trust-based customs processes.

The British delegation was hosted by Steve Parker, General Manager of BIFA, and Pawel Jarza, Director of Policy and Compliance. Doğan Ekici, Director of Logistics Operations at SunExpress, and Mevlüt Dişiaçık, Deputy Director of Logistics and Customs, were also part of our association’s delegation.

The primary purpose of our delegation’s visit was to explore the groundwork for more effective use of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status in trade between Türkiye and the United Kingdom, as well as for the future signing of a “Mutual Recognition Agreement” between the two parties. Given that the United Kingdom is one of Türkiye’s leading trading partners, potential issues that exporters and importers from both sides might face were discussed, and views were exchanged on how the AEO system could be made more effective.

One of the key topics emphasized at the meeting was trust. It was noted that trust lies at the heart of the AEO system, and it was stressed that strengthening this foundation between customs authorities and the logistics sector is critical. The BIFA delegation pointed out that many of the issues encountered in border procedures are closely linked to the level of trust that public authorities have in the sector.

According to information shared during the meeting, there are 1,127 AEO-certified companies in the United Kingdom, and a significant portion of these firms operate in the logistics and transportation sectors. Border procedures in the United Kingdom are largely conducted electronically, and the vast majority of shipments enter free circulation within a short period. For this reason, it was noted that AEO status stands out not only for streamlining processes but also in terms of commercial reliability, audit quality, and its value as a reference for customers.

BIFA Director General Steve Parker noted that customs processes in the United Kingdom are currently approved electronically 98% of the time in as short a time as 10 minutes. Parker stated that the customs authority (HMRC) has full confidence in the logistics sector and that the cooperation to be carried out with Türkiye presents a “fantastic opportunity” for both countries. Noting that sharing specific sectoral requests regarding Türkiye would be beneficial, he said the matter could be evaluated by HMRC and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). Parker noted that the “Türkiye” agenda item would also be included in future discussions with the aforementioned Ministry.

Our delegation stated that this agreement would serve as a “crowning element” in achieving the target of a $40 billion foreign trade volume between the two countries, and noted that Türkiye already has a similar agreement with South Korea. It was emphasized that the “green lane” priority granted by customs authorities to industrialists is of vital importance for simplifying trade, in line with the principle that “every factory is a fortress.”

Regarding the main agenda item of the meeting—the establishment of a “Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) Committee” following the Mutual Recognition Agreement to be concluded between the United Kingdom and Türkiye—consensus was reached on this proposal. It was assessed that for such a body to function effectively, the committee should consist of representatives from the General Directorate of Customs in Türkiye, the UK customs authority (HMRC), as well as representatives from UYYSD and BIFA.

At the conclusion of the visit, our delegation presented BIFA General Manager Steve Parker with an AEO Association plaque, as well as a special jersey bearing Atatürk’s words, “Peace at home, peace in the world,” thereby expressing our hopes for the restoration of peace and harmony worldwide.

Mehmet Altay YEGİN

International Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Association

Chairman of the Board