The Future of Customs Brokers

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Overview

Welcome to the Customs Knowledge Institute's first monthly Podcast, the Episode 1! We start with a lively discussion about the changing role of customs brokers.

The most basic function of a Customs Broker is to lodge customs declarations on behalf of clients.  Most trading businesses however rely on their Broker for much more - advice, record keeping, dealing with compliance issues, and interfacing with Customs authorities. The complexity of Customs and of business has encouraged specialisation and fragmentation of the "Customs representative", as the Broker is known in the UCC. We see specialist brokers who offer the fullest representation, but also situations where brokerage is an add-on to other business such as transport, accountancy or consultancy.  So it is hard to give one description that fits all Customs Brokers.

There is now a growing debate in the EU, the UK and the USA about the management and development of Customs representatives. Some would say that the EU Customs Reform Proposals threaten the very existence of the broker, and there is a strong campaign to restrict access to the role. The debate is partly driven by a perception that the broker can in some ways hide the trader from the view of the Customs authority, without having to take any responsibility for improper action or non-compliance.

Participants 

The participants in the discussion: Anthony Buckley (Chair of CKI, Ireland), Kevin Shakespeare (Director of Strategic Projects and International Development at the Institute of Export & International Trade, the UK), Dr Momchil Antov (Chairman of the Board of the National Organization of Customs Agents, Bulgaria) and Enrika Naujoke (director of Lithuanian Customs Practitioners Association).

Discussion

Participants discussed some of the fundamental issues such as:

  • What is wrong with the present system?
  • Is the Broker under real threat?
  • Does it make sense to have one definition of "Customs Representative" or should there be different categories?
  • Should there be a licensing system? Covering which activities?

Would you like to participate in such discussions? Join Customs Knowledge Community (CKC)!

  • Publication date: August 20, 2023
  • Unlock duration: 2 months
  • Prepared by: Customs Knowledge Institute
  • Video duration: 36min 47sec
  • Languages: English
  • Type: Web/Seminar recording
  • Topic: customs brokers
  • Market: EU - European Union UK - United Kingdom

Resources are available after purchase.

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