World Customs Day 2026

World Customs Day is a moment to step back and look at where our industry is heading. For trade compliance and customs professionals, the pace of change isn’t slowing down: increased scrutiny, new sustainability requirements, shifting trade patterns, and rapid technology adoption are all happening at once.

For CATTS, this day is also a natural point to share what we’ve been building with EPOS, and how we see the year unfolding for compliance teams across the globe.

Highlights from 2025

2025 was a year of growth and acceleration for CATTS and EPOS:

• We started working with many new companies and welcomed our 15th customer in Brazil, only two years after launching CATTS do Brasil.
• We expanded the EPOS development team and delivered major upgrades, including a post-transactional audit module, fully configurable pre- and post-transactional audit automation, stronger data comparison capabilities, and an improved Doc-to-Data workflow with AI functionality.
• We became ISO 9001 certified in 2025 and successfully maintained certification after our follow-up external audit in January 2026.
• We also saw a noticeable rise in authority checks linked to AEO and similar standards, along with greater attention on Internal Control Programs (ICPs), a trend strongly influenced by today’s geopolitical reality.

Key Trends in Trade Compliance and Customs for 2026

1) AI is moving from “interesting” to “embedded”

AI is becoming part of day-to-day compliance operations: document processing, anomaly detection, and decision support. The key is not just adopting AI, but doing it in a controlled, secure, auditable way.

2) Automation is becoming the default

Authorities and businesses both expect cleaner data, faster traceability, and stronger proof. Automation isn’t only about speed, it’s about consistency, control, and being ready when questions come.

3) Green customs is no longer optional

Environmental and sustainability requirements are translating into practical compliance work: supply chain transparency, supporting documentation, and reporting obligations. “Sustainability” is increasingly becoming a customs topic.

4) Geopolitics continues to raise the stakes

Sanctions, export controls, shifting sourcing strategies, and trade measures are reshaping risk profiles. Compliance teams are expected to respond faster, and with fewer errors, even when rules and enforcement priorities change quickly.

Embracing 2026 with Vision and Commitment

Trade compliance has always been built on discipline, accountability, and detail, and those expectations are only increasing. In 2026, the priority is clear: compliance programs must be resilient, data-driven, and ready for change.

World Customs Day is also about people. Progress in technology and process is important, but it’s the individuals behind the screens, checks, and decisions who protect trade every day. To the CATTS Crew, and to compliance professionals across the industry: thank you for the consistency and vigilance that makes the difference.

We’ll keep growing our capabilities across people, services, and technology, so we can support compliance professionals worldwide with practical expertise, strong delivery, and reliable solutions that scale.