U.S., Kenya ink customs mutual assistance agreement

   The U.S. and Kenyan governments on Wednesday signed a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement to collaborate on security and trade facilitation. 
   “This agreement will expand our efforts to combat illicit cross-border activities and will enable us to continue our work to prevent, detect and investigate customs offenses,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Acting Deputy Commissioner Kevin McAleenan in a statement. 
   The United States has signed 71 Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements with other customs administrations around the world.
   CMAAs are bilateral agreements between countries and enforced by their respective customs administrations. They provide a legal framework for the exchange of information and evidence to assist countries in the enforcement of customs laws, including duty evasion, trafficking, proliferation, money laundering and terrorism-related activities. CMAAs also serve as a foundation for subsequent information-sharing arrangements, including mutual recognition arrangements on authorized economic operator programs.