Managing the border: A transformational shift to pre-export screening

Until fairly recently, it has been the practice of customs authorities to screen international cargo upon its arrival in the country, that is, 'at the border', as opposed to pre-screening prior to its departure from the country of export. The concept of what constitutes the border has changed significantly, with an expanded view now encompassing the entire international supply chain. This paper examines catalysts for the pronounced change in practice and identifies the emergence of national security imperatives as the primary reason for the transformational shift to pre-export screening and targeting. The research examines the manner in which the policy has been adopted and applied by individual economies, and the proportion of containerised sea cargo impacted by its adoption. In doing so, related security initiatives and their impact on cross-border trade are addressed.