The 2022 edition of the Study Report on Disruptive Technologies builds on the 2019 edition of the tool and is the result of the collective effort of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the World Trade Organization (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.
In early 2021, the WCO partnered with the 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”. During 2020, 2021 and 2022, two TECH-CONs and a number of WCO regional workshops on disruptive technologies were organized by the WCO. The results of the survey, the paper, the TECH-CONs and the regional workshops have been incorporated into this update of the Study Report. Lastly, case studies provided by Members and other stakeholders are annexed to the Study Report.