FUNCTIONAL SUPPORT FOR CUSTOMS BROKER ACTIVITIES: A LEGISLATIVE ANALYSIS OF UKRAINE, THE EU, THE USA, AND CANADA

Abstract

The article presents a comparative legal analysis of regulatory approaches to customs brokerage in four jurisdictions: Ukraine, the European Union, the United States, and Canada. It focuses on examining different models of access to the customs brokerage profession—licensing, authorization, and liberal regimes—in order to assess their impact on the quality of customs clearance, regulatory compliance, and overall procedural efficiency. Particular attention is given to Ukraine’s ongoing reform, which entails a gradual shift from a traditional licensing system to an authorization-based model harmonized with the Union Customs Code (UCC) and the World Customs Organization’s SAFE Framework of Standards.

The authors identify key regulatory trends shaping effective customs policy, including the dual representation mechanism in the EU (direct and indirect), strict licensing and continuous education requirements for customs brokers in North America (notably the CBLE exam in the U.S. and the CBSA certification system in Canada), as well as the role of voluntary Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) certification in post-regulatory oversight. A comparative matrix of legal and institutional requirements is provided, serving as a practical reference for policymakers, businesses, and experts in the process of aligning Ukraine’s customs framework with international standards.

The article concludes that professionalizing customs intermediation and delegating certain official controls to authorized representatives on the basis of trust contribute to enhanced supply chain security and reduced administrative burden. Further research should focus on the empirical evaluation of how the new authorization system affects customs clearance times and on the potential use of artificial intelligence tools for product classification and customs risk prediction.