International E-Customs Standardization from the Perspective of a Global Company

This paper addresses international e-Customs standardization from the perspective of a global dairy company who faces the result of the standardization efforts. International trade stands in front of a paradox of increasing security and control in order to meet threats from terrorist, diseases and other risks while at the same time lower the administrative burden for traders in order to stay competitive. To solve this seemingly impossible equation national customs and regional economic organizations are seeking to establish a standardized solution for digital reporting of customs data. However, standardization has proven hard to achieve in the socio-technical e-Customs solution. The author identifies and describes what has to be harmonized in order for a global company should perceive e-Customs as standardized. In doing so the author contributes towards an improved understanding of the challenges associated with using a standardization mechanism for harmonizing socio-technical information systems.