The growth of global trade, internalisation and externalisation of borders, and increased security threats to international supply chains are putting pressure on Customs organizations around the world.

The EU has recently announced the official launch of negotiations for a free trade agreement with Japan. The agreement would cover goods, services and investment, and would eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers, and cover other trade-related issues, such as sustainable development, regulatory issues, competition and public procurement.

Given Google's central role in driving e-commerce traffic through its huge user base, its move into real-world commerce could be a major game changer. An online shopping service that provides same-day delivery of food and other products - that's the basic idea behind a new service now being tested by the company.

Supply chain managers fight a tough battle in trying to meet management demands to decrease costs while creating efficiencies and implementing sustainability measures. Economic growth has improved but lacks the stability to provide companies comfort to budget for implementation of many of the innovations in their long- or short-term plan. However, companies can stagnate without taking the time to identify opportunities to innovate. With pressure to sustain its competitive edge, leading organizations are beginning to consider their reverse supply chain to find hidden value.

Recently, several wholesale distribution industry groups published data showing mostly steady growth in the last decade for their members in such verticals as auto parts, health and beauty, furniture, industrial, and food. In fact, many have outperformed other sectors of the U.S. economy, and this year and next are no different.