2026 – The Year of AI in Customs 

In 2025 it became evident for all how important customs and trade compliance is for international trade and border crossing. While the world of trade is rapidly changing into a new era, let’s call it  Global Trade 2.0, so is customs and border management.  

Artificial intelligence (AI) has already now become a core driver of modernizing international trade, fundamentally reshaping how customs agencies and the private sector customs service providers operate.

In 2026, we can expect AI to be deeply embedded in customs processes worldwide, moving border agencies from descriptive data analysis to truly autonomous and predictive operations. This transformation is not just theoretical—it’s already unfolding across borders, with key applications set to mature and expand in the coming years.

The good news is that private sector stakeholders is leading the innovation in the massive change.

What are we already seeing?

Automated Tariff Classification of Harmonized System (HS) Codes: The classification of goods using Harmonized System (HS) codes has long been a complex challenge for traders and customs officials alike. It is also the key to trade compliance and trade optimization. Today’s AI models go far beyond keyword matching; they analyze product descriptions, technical specifications, and even images to suggest accurate HS codes. Advanced “Agentic AI” systems can now execute these tasks with minimal human intervention—continuously learning from manual corrections to improve accuracy over time. This automation not only reduces costly errors but also accelerates clearance times significantly. While Customs administration now are suing AI to target potential classification errors, rules-of-origin challenges and transshipment risks, so is private sector. We are in Maersk today, together with our close partners (like Altana) running AI powered intelligent tariff optimization, offering visibility and actioning, saving millions of dollars for customers. We use a hybrid model supervised by world class experts to maximize the accuracy of our tariff management models. 

Intelligent Risk Management: Machine learning algorithms are revolutionizing risk assessment by processing vast datasets—including trade history, financial records, and real-time shipping data—to detect anomalies such as ESG regulation risks, smuggling attempts or misdeclarations, money laundering or sanction violations. Customs authorities can now prioritize high-risk cargo for inspection while fast-tracking legitimate shipments. The result: increased security without sacrificing efficiency or burdening compliant traders. Since source data is collected throughout the end-to-end journey of the goods enabling supply chain visibility, private sector is applying the same techniques, but earlier in the supply chain. We are in Maersk building trusted trade lanes using intelligent AI-powered Digital Trade Corridors, where we do upstream compliance risk scanning of commercial data.

We combine the AI-powered validation of product and entity data with customs data and goods movement data (using 24/7 supervised smart containers) into Product Passports for Goods, trust badges that in a safe and secure way can be voluntarily exchanged with border agencies – and other stakeholders – way in advance of goods arrival, creating fast-track border experiences.    

Smart Cargo Scanning & Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII): AI-powered computer vision is integrated into advanced X-ray and CT scanning equipment at ports of entry worldwide. These deep learning systems automatically detect contraband or hazardous materials within seconds—often flagging specific zones for targeted human review rather than requiring exhaustive manual inspection. This approach drastically reduces inspection times while enhancing overall safety.

Document Processing & Automation: Trade documentation has always been labor-intensive—but AI tools leveraging natural language processing (NLP) and optical character recognition (OCR) are changing that paradigm. These solutions automate the extraction of critical information from invoices, certificates of origin, and other documents—cutting manual data entry by up to 50% and accelerating digital declaration preparation. Already today both border agencies and private sector are increasingly using AI-powered solutions for customs declarations and other data exchange elements at borders. Next step is the next generation of automated access to supply chain visibility data upstream to make these processes more cost efficient and more reliable.

Trade Facilitation & Virtual Assistants: With regulations growing more complex each year, traders increasingly rely on chatbots and AI-driven customer service platforms for real-time support around the clock. These virtual assistants demystify procedures and help businesses stay compliant without unnecessary delays.

Regional & International Initiatives

The World Customs Organization (WCO) continues leading the charge by its release of an updated “Smart Customs” reports in early 2025—providing self-assessment tools that empower administrations to evaluate their readiness for advanced AI/ML integration.

In the United States, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) leverages AI for cargo screening at ports as well as identity validation through the CBP One app—enhancing both border security and operational efficiency. The GBI initiative using AI-powered Product Passports, is an excellent example on how Government and Private Sector can innovate new models together when it is needed most. 

The European Union’s CustomAI project aims to reduce false positives in cargo inspections using sophisticated risk anticipation models – a vital step toward streamlining cross-border trade within Europe’s vast single market. We are seeing new initiatives, research projects and pilot tests of AI-powered supply chain visibility models, aiming to explore how the next generation of EU UCC legislation at borders will emerge with the ‘EU Customs Data Hub’ and the ‘Trust and Check model’ at the center.  

Meanwhile, China Customs’ “Intelligent Customs Inspection” platform represents one of the world’s most comprehensive deployments of deep learning technology in border management today—with full automation covering everything from manifest analysis to on-the-ground inspections.

Looking Ahead

By 2026, artificial intelligence will be indispensable across every facet of customs operations – from automated tariff classification through smart scanning technology—all underpinned by robust international standards set by organizations like the WCO or  standardization initiatives like the WTO and ICC collaboration for digitalization through the ICC Digital Standards Initiative (DSI). The DSI is creating a harmonized digital trade environment, focusing on interoperable standards (like the eBL example), but also promoting legal reforms for digital documents, and supporting SME and MSME digital adoption, removing barriers like data fragmentation and driving the need for clear rules to enable seamless, paperless global trade. Another important factor in this context is the Digital Trade Corridor concept, where ICC, UN/CEFACT, UK Government, numerous smart technology providers and major players like Maersk are pilot testing a new way to use data pipelines for smarter customs, smarter borders and smarter trade.

As these innovations converge globally, they promise faster clearances for legitimate goods with a lower cost, while increasing trade compliance and maintaining uncompromising security standards – a win-win scenario that will define the future of international trade facilitation and global trade.

2026 will be the year when this happens.