Course Title:      Professional Doctorate in Public Administration (Research)

Thesis Title:       Trade Facilitation and Customs Regulatory Control: A Study of Express Consignment Operations in Thailand

Supervisors:       Dr Christopher Aulich, Professor David Widdowson & Professor John Halligan

Abstract

Trade facilitation can result in a wide range of benefits for the international trading community, and has been recognised worldwide as a significant means of increasing international trade volume and decreasing business costs. At the same time, however, customs regulatory control remains a critical issue that needs to be taken into consideration, particularly in the light of current concerns about social safety and security issues.

Trade facilitation and customs regulatory control are considered to be two significant requirements for both government and the business community in pursuing their national and international trade in todays competitive environment. These requirements, however, are difficult to put into practice, and this has become the challenge for customs administrations. In this situation, questions have been raised regarding how customs can perform their day-to-day operations in response to the changes of current international trends and the requirements of the international trading community while at the same time ensuring effective control in compliance with both national and international obligations. The purpose of this research is to explore how to reconcile the tensions between trade facilitation and customs regulatory control, by analysing the case study of express consignment operations at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand.