Saint Lucia

7.7 - Authorized operators

Articles	7.7.1 – 7.7.2 (a) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (i), (ii) – 7.7.3 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) – 7.7.4 – 7.7.5 – 7.7.6 View measure text
Indicative date of implementation	31 December 2020
Definitive date of implementation	29 December 2026
Deadline for extension request, if required	31 August 2026
Extension of implementation dates	Request received 25 August 2026 Original definitive date 29 December 2026 New date requested 29 December 2028 Agreed date Reason The Government of Saint Lucia through its Customs and Excise Department has been actively working to establish a Trusted Trader Programme as the initial phase towards the full implementation of an Authorized Economic Operator Programme. Some of the ongoing work has involved importer segmentation and the development of a Compliance Strategy. In order to fully implement the provisions of Article 7.7, the Government would require technical assistance and capacity building support to enable the development of an Authorized Economic Operator Policy Framework and operational criteria; process mapping and client segmentation using ASYCUDA World trade data and the formulation of a public sensitization and stakeholder awareness campaign. In this regard, the Government has been in discussions with the World Bank Group which has committed to supporting Saint Lucia with implementation of this measure. A World Bank Mission to undertake a scoping exercise is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year. To ensure adequate time for the delivery of the technical assistance and capacity building support, including programme design and stakeholder engagements, the Government is requesting a two-year extension of the previously extended definitive implementation date of 29 December 2026, to the newly proposed extended definitive implementation date of 29 December 2028. Committee approval: Pending Link to notification G/TFA/N/LCA/1/Add.7 Request received 4 March 2025 Original definitive date 29 June 2025 New date requested 29 June 2027 Agreed date 29 December 2026 Reason The Government of Saint Lucia has not been able to secure the necessary technical assistance and capacity building support required for implementation of an Authorized Operators programme. The Government's attempt to identify the necessary support has involved engagement with a few donor development partners with discussions still ongoing. Committee approval: Approved new date Link to notification G/TFA/N/LCA/1/Add.5 Request received 23 August 2023 Original definitive date 29 December 2023 New date requested 29 June 2025 Agreed date 29 June 2025 Reason An internal assessment revealed that additional time as well as external support is required for the development and successful roll-out of an Authorized Operator programme. More specifically, the legislative and regulatory framework has to be further developed to take into account new processes and procedures, as well as the need for mutual recognition agreements. External assistance is also required to: (i) build the capacity of customs officials; and (ii) to develop awareness programmes aimed at enhancing the cooperation of potential operators in the sharing of confidential information critical to the process, and to ultimately improve the uptake of the programme. Committee approval: Approved Link to notification G/TFA/N/LCA/1/Add.4
Shift	Shift from Cat. B to Cat. C notification.
Assistance required for implementation	The legislative and regulatory framework has to be further developed to take into account new processes and procedures, as well as the need for mutual recognition agreements. External assistance is also required to: (i) build the capacity of customs officials; and (ii) to develop awareness programmes aimed at enhancing the cooperation of potential operators in the sharing of confidential information critical to the process, and to ultimately improve the uptake of the programme. Tags: Legislative and regulatory framework, Human resources and training, Awareness-raising
Donor / Agency	World Bank
Progress reported	11 December 2025 — G/TFA/N/LCA/5/Rev.1 One of the initiatives currently being pursued by the Customs & Excise Department includes the development and introduction of a Trusted Trader program, as a precursor to the implementation of a more substantial Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program. To achieve this ambition, Customs and Excise would need to develop a Compliance Strategy and conduct a client segmentation to identify suitable beneficiaries. Technical assistance is therefore required to develop a Policy Framework/Compliance Strategy, to map the process, to set the criteria and conduct Client segmentation (using the management reports generated by ASYCUDA World). Support is also required to develop a sensitization and publicity campaign informing the trading community of this important facilitation measure. (Some of the work on this article may be delivered in conjunction with support activities under article 7.4 Risk Management (see above). It is considered that the current extended definitive date may provide adequate time for alignment.