Here's the past-tense version:

Watch the replay of "The Future of Customs and Global Trade: Next Generation Perspectives on Technology, Policy and Data," a live-streamed event hosted by the Global Customs & Trade Forum. Five next-generation voices from across trade technology, policy and research examined how digital trade documents, artificial intelligence, data-sharing frameworks and sustainability-driven regulation are redefining international trade. The discussion explored how technology, regulation, data and institutional cooperation must work together to deliver more efficient, secure and inclusive global trade, with a particular focus on the implications for SMEs.

Event Agenda (60 minutes), Wednesday 29 July 2026:

Introduction and Welcome (14:00 - 14:05 CEST)
Sylwia Nowak, Director of Community Engagement, GCTF, welcomed attendees and outlined the Global Customs & Trade Forum's objectives and the focus of the session.

Opening Address (14:05 - 14:10 CEST)
Greg Pilkington, Founder & Chair, Global Customs & Trade Forum, framed the shifts reshaping customs and global trade in the Customs 4.0 era.

Expert Panel Discussion (14:10 - 14:45 CEST)
Panelist Introductions (14:10 - 14:15 CEST): Each panelist introduced themselves and their focus area:

• Jose Gonzalez, Co-founder, DocuShield Inc. ... verifiable digital trade records and what they unlock for SMEs

• Nisha Verma, Marketing Executive, Consulate General of India, Manchester ... digital trade chapters in free trade agreements and the shift to paperless customs

• Kevin Gandhi, International Trade Specialist & Buyer, Nasco ... AI in customs and international trade

• Maathangi Hariharan, International Consultant, International Trade Centre ... CBAM, deforestation rules and the rising importance of supply-chain data

• Adib Zuhdi, Market Researcher & Associate, MarkPlus Inc. ... how ASEAN and the EU are approaching paperless trade and interoperability

Moderated Discussion (14:15 - 14:45 CEST): The panel took a deep dive into how these technologies and regulatory shifts are converging, and what they mean in practice for trade processes, customs compliance and market access.

Moderated Q&A Session (14:45 - 14:55 CEST)
Panelists took live questions from the audience.

Closing Remarks and Introduction to the Global Customs Canon (14:55 - 15:00 CEST)
Greg Pilkington closed the session with an introduction to the Global Customs Canon. Attendees received a curated reading list spanning the Canon and key WCO, WTO and OECD references.

• Posted In: Machine Learning (ML), Customs, Customs Technology, Global Trade, Trade Compliance, Blockchain in Trade, Digital Transformation, Trade Facilitation, Innovations in Customs, Emerging Technologies