Customs agencies find themselves operating in a world in which they are more important than ever to the nations they serve but in which their role is being questioned and the challenges they face have shifted. The goals for customs remain the same: to facilitate trade, to protect national security, and to ensure accurate revenue collection, but the context in which they must deliver them is very different. These outcomes do not fall solely within the remit of the customs agency, nor do they even fit within the control of any single nation. To succeed in the future, customs agencies need to provide leadership in a complex, multiagency, multinational environment. This article examines the challenges agencies face and outlines the components of a new operating model that will enable them to meet these challenges and to drive national success.
Global Trade and Customs Journal