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ABSTRACT
Contemporary border wall policies are characterized by digitization of control procedures to filter out mobilities and adjust control to trade flows. This digitization has been mostly studied in terms of technology deployment and usages by state and non-state actors to deal with migration. When applied to control of trade flows, “smart bordering” also involves functional adjustments between public and trade actors, as well as customs cooperation. The bordering at stake with Brexit provides a revealing case study. Brexit entailed supply chain security for goods crossing the UK–France/Belgium border. For companies, transporters, and customs, avoiding physical controls at ports became imperative. Each country generalized data sharing and pre-lodgment through “smart bordering” models and various Information Technology (IT) programs. This paper examines such digitization programs and the adjustments between public and private actors confronted with IT programs and the mutation and cooperation of customs agencies in this process. It concludes that the UK lacked anticipation, while France and Belgium were proactive in accordance with EU harmonization. The digitization of control also reveals changes in identity-making of customs, emphasizing its autonomy as a border agent and its role as a trade supporter, on top of traditional policing or taxation duties.
Acknowledgements
This research was possible thanks to the 2021 Guest Professorship program at the Center for border studies of the University of the Greater Region, hosted by the Technische Universität Kaiserslautern. I kindly thank the team of Prof. Dr. Karina Pallagst for providing with an inspiring intellectual environment in the fall 2021. Susan Basselier, English teacher at INALCO, thankfully checked the spelling of the text.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 Based on the statistics available on the website of the ONS: Laura Cheatham, “Long-term international migration, provisional: year ending June 2023,” November 23 2023, available at https://www.ons.gov.uk/
2 According to estimates from the UK government of irregular migration until September 2023: see https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/
3 Presentation attended online on “Border formalities between GB and the EU at the end of the Transition Period,” December 1 2020, organized by the British Embassy in Brussels.