Sustainability requirements: How to operate in the new reality?

Brian Staples
Brian Staples
President, Trade Facilitation Services, Canada
Anthony Buckley
Anthony Buckley
CEO, Anthony Buckley Consulting Ltd., Ireland
Anna Jerzewska
Anna Jerzewska
Founder of Trade and Borders, EuroCommerce Rapporteur on Customs, Customs and International Trade Lead at Cbamboo
Published 10 Mar 2024
Sustainability requirements: How to operate in the new reality?
'Deep origin' is a phrase coined by Brain Staples. It is a description of the sustainability-focused regulatory environment now being increasingly faced by customs and traders. It goes beyond customs when it comes to implementing sanctions or other prohibitions on importation of endangered goods, goods manufactured by forced labour, or by slavery, or by other undesirable practices. How to operate in this increasingly complex regulatory environment?

Related content

CBAM liability of importers and ‘other persons’

CBAM liability of importers and ‘other persons’

Michael Lux
Michael Lux
21 Dec 2025

The CBAM Regulation distinguishes as of 1 January 2026 between importers or their customs representatives who are ‘authorised CBAM declarants’ declaring CBAM goods for release for free circulation, and 'other…

Sustainability
Topic spotlight
CBAM goes downstream: what importers of steel and aluminium goods must do before 2028

CBAM goes downstream: what importers of steel and aluminium goods must do before 2028

Erika Besusparienė
Erika Besusparienė
02 Aug 2026

Importers that have only recently adapted to CBAM on raw steel and aluminium now face a further change. The Council's general approach of 12 June 2026 would extend the carbon…

Sustainability
Topic spotlight
United States Deforestation Bill of 2023: What lies ahead?

United States Deforestation Bill of 2023: What lies ahead?

Ira Reese
Ira Reese
27 Mar 2024

The U.S. Deforestation Bill was introduced in the Senate in November 2023. It aims to combat illegal deforestation by prohibiting the importation of products obtained, in whole or in part,…

Sustainability
Country update
Volkswagen Xinjiang facility and forced labor

Volkswagen Xinjiang facility and forced labor

Ira Reese
Ira Reese
28 Feb 2024

As the European Union ponders statutes that respond to unverified claims by different organizations of the usage of slave labour in the manufacture of a variety of goods from China,…

Sustainability
Perspective
Compliant on Forced Labor? Prove It: the Expansion of U.S. Anti-Forced Labor Laws and Compliance Requirements for Importers

Compliant on Forced Labor? Prove It: the Expansion of U.S. Anti-Forced Labor Laws and Compliance Requirements for Importers

Simeon Yerokun
Simeon Yerokun
21 Jan 2024

Forced labor is on the rise worldwide. The United States is one of the largest importers of merchandise at risk of being produced with forced labor and U.S. Customs and…

Sustainability
Country update
Customs issues related to trade in purported forced labor

Customs issues related to trade in purported forced labor

Ira Reese
Ira Reese
03 Mar 2022

While many countries of the world find it morally correct to act regarding the importation of forced labor products, in the case of Xinjiang cotton the actions will be very…

Sustainability
Case law