2. E-Commerce

E-commerce, short for electronic commerce, is the buying and selling of goods and services over the internet. Although its origins trace back to the 1970s with the development of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), it surged in the 1990s with the rise of platforms such as Amazon and eBay. Since then, it has become a transformative force in global trade, offering unprecedented convenience, reach, and speed.

Today, e-commerce accounts for trillions of dollars in annual sales. Its continued growth benefits consumers and businesses but also presents significant challenges for customs authorities, particularly in revenue collection, risk management, data quality, and trade facilitation. The rapid increase in low-value, high-volume consignments has placed sustained pressure on border processes and regulatory frameworks.

The World Customs Organization (WCO) plays a central role in coordinating global efforts to manage e-commerce, reduce associated risks, and promote harmonized approaches through standards, guidance, and multi-stakeholder cooperation.