ACCESSION 
NUMBER:360821

FILE ID:EUR415

DATE:09/15/94

TITLE:U.S., PORTUGAL TO COOPERATE IN INVESTIGATING CUSTOMS OFFENSES (09/15/94)

TEXT:*94091513.PFE

*EUR415   09/15/94

U.S., PORTUGAL TO COOPERATE IN INVESTIGATING CUSTOMS OFFENSES

(Agreement signed 09/15/94) (210)

Washington -- Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Portuguese Foreign

Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso today signed a Customs Mutual Assistance

Agreement (CMAA) that will assist the two countries in prevention,

investigation and repression of Customs offenses such as trade fraud and

drug smuggling.



The agreement will take effect some months from now after various national

legal requirements have been fulfilled.



Commenting on the agreement, Assistant Commissioner of U.S. Customs

(International Affairs) Douglas Browning said, "International trade and

criminal activity are increasing so rapidly, it is essential for us to

establish a network of agreements between Customs agencies to share

information for facilitating trade and law enforcement purposes.  Everyone

wins when we establish mechanisms for mutual cooperation to promote

international trade and thwart criminal activity."



U.S. domestic laws, and most foreign national law, do not permit disclosure

of much information in the absence of a formal agreement or treaty.  The

CMAA will allow U.S. Customs to exchange information, intelligence, and

other assistance with Portugal.



1.S. Customs has signed agreements with a number of other countries.  As of

this date, 25 have entered into force.



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