On 22 September 2026, the World Customs Organization (WCO) held the third webinar in its 2026 series dedicated to the Theme of the Year, “Customs Protecting Society through Vigilance and Commitment.” Under the title “Building Resilient Supply Chains to Protect Society”, the webinar brought together representatives from Customs administrations, the private sector and international partners to discuss how resilient supply chains contribute to secure trade, economic prosperity and the protection of society.
The discussion reflected growing recognition that global supply chains face a wide range of challenges, including organised crime, geopolitical instability, technological change and disruptions to international trade. Against this backdrop, speakers explored how Customs administrations are strengthening supply chain integrity by balancing effective border controls with trade facilitation, risk-based decision-making and close collaboration with supply chain stakeholders.
Opening the webinar, the Director of Implementation and Capacity Development at the WCO emphasised that Customs plays a strategic role in protecting society by ensuring legitimate trade moves securely and efficiently across borders. She highlighted the importance of international standards, coordinated border management, intelligence-led enforcement and strong partnerships in strengthening global supply chain resilience.
Keynote address: Building Resilient Supply Chains Through Partnership
In his keynote address, the Director of US Regulatory Affairs at the World Shipping Council highlighted the shared responsibility of governments and industry in safeguarding international supply chains. He emphasised that resilient supply chains are fundamental to economic growth and public confidence, and that effective cooperation between Customs administrations and the maritime sector is essential to preserving the integrity of global trade.
The keynote further underlined that transparency, quality data, harmonised standards and modern technologies enabled Customs and industry to identify risks better, strengthen supply chain visibility and facilitate the efficient movement of legitimate goods while preventing criminal exploitation of international trade.
Panel discussion: Strengthening Supply Chain Integrity Through Partnership
A panel discussion followed, bringing together representatives from the Portuguese Customs Administration and the Smart Container Alliance to share practical experiences and discuss how collaboration strengthens the resilience of international supply chains.
Drawing on perspectives from both the public and private sectors, panellists explored how digitalisation, advanced cargo information, intelligence-led risk management and coordinated border management were transforming Customs operations while supporting legitimate trade. They also emphasised that resilient supply chains depended on trusted partnerships between Customs administrations, port authorities, shipping companies, logistics providers, technology partners and other competent authorities.
The discussion highlighted that protecting supply chain integrity required continuous adaptation to evolving threats. Investment in technology, data analytics and human expertise, combined with effective information sharing and internationally recognised standards, enabled Customs administrations to identify emerging risks while minimising unnecessary disruption to legitimate commerce.
A recurring message throughout the webinar was that resilient supply chains are built on trust, cooperation and shared responsibility. Customs administrations cannot achieve this objective alone; meaningful engagement with governments, international organisations, the private sector and other border agencies is essential to strengthening the security and resilience of international trade.
The webinar reaffirmed that protecting society begins with protecting the integrity of global supply chains. By combining innovation, effective risk management, international standards and strong public-private partnerships, Customs administrations continue to strengthen confidence in the global trading system while ensuring that legitimate trade remains secure, efficient and resilient.
As the third event in the WCO’s 2026 Theme of the Year webinar series, the discussion reinforced the organisation’s commitment to supporting its members in building resilient supply chains that protect society through vigilance, commitment and international cooperation.