The World Customs Organization (WCO) Permanent Technical Committee (PTC) launched the "Future of Customs" initiative in 2015 following discussions on the evolving role of the PTC. The Virtual Working Group on the Future of Customs (VWG FC) was established, comprising Customs administrations, the private sector, international organizations, and academia, to explore strategic topics.
In 2017, the PTC decided to focus the group's efforts on disruptive technologies, recognizing their increasing integration into daily life and the potential benefits for Customs and border management. The aim was to conduct exploratory research on these technologies, assess their use, benefits, risks, and impact on Customs operations and supply chains.
The Study Report on Disruptive Technologies, first published in 2019, aimed to raise awareness within the Customs community and provide practical examples and case studies.
In early 2021, the WCO partnered with the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the work on disruptive technologies, which resulted in the collection of survey results on the use of particular disruptive technologies by Customs and the development of a joint paper, “The Role of Advanced Technologies in Cross-border Trade: A Customs Perspective”.
The 2022 edition of the Study Report on Disruptive Technologies is the result of the collective effort of the WCO and the WTO Secretariats working closely with Member Customs administrations, private sector representatives and other stakeholders. The Study Report 2022 intends to further raise the awareness and knowledge of WCO and WTO Members of the use of disruptive technologies in international trade and particularly in the border management environment, including the benefits and opportunities, and the challenges and gaps identified. It is intended to serve as an important source of information and a basis for policy actions that will ensure Customs’ contribution towards the paperless trade agenda and implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation.
The Study Report was meant to be a living document, to be updated on a regular basis to incorporate new findings and recommendations, reflecting the ongoing evolution of disruptive technologies and their impact on Customs practices.