ABSTRACT
Globalization has put new demands on Customs authorities. The growth in the volume of trade has put pressure on physical borders. At the same time, the documentation accompanying these shipments has inundated Customs offices with data to be checked and processed. Managing this increase in volume is further complicated by the complexity of trade policies. For instance, the multiplication of trade agreements and trade disputes adds both volume and complexity to the administration of world trade. Meanwhile, the trade community in its quest to build a smooth, continuous global supply chain was demanding faster and simpler Customs clearance. Modernization was indispensable. Global trade was changing and Customs authorities had to adapt their border management to the borderless world.
