Maersk Launches Trade & Tariff Studio – A Savior in the Age of Customs Chaos?

Have you ever faced these issues in logistics?

“We can’t predict customs clearance time,” “FTA was supposed to apply but didn’t,” “Every country has different rules and we don’t know what’s correct.”

These are the logistics realities that global businesses face today.

Now, Maersk has launched an AI-powered tool called Trade & Tariff Studio. The era where AI transforms customs is finally here.

Why is an AI customs tool needed now?

Tariff regulations are changing constantly.They are announced suddenly and sometimes withdrawn just as quickly.

This confusion is so extreme that people in the field call it “chaos.”

In such a climate, mistakes in customs declaration can lead to delays.

Even when conditions for using FTAs are met, only 50–55% of companies actually apply them.

That means many companies are paying tariffs they didn’t need to, simply because they didn’t know or couldn’t verify eligibility.

What is “Maersk Trade & Tariff Studio”?

This is an AI-powered customs and tariff optimization platform developed by Maersk.

It was launched on June 28 for U.S. imports and is scheduled for global rollout in August.

Its standout feature is that it’s trained on over 6 million customs declarations processed by Maersk.

This gives it an edge in speed and accuracy compared to other tools.

It also supports 6,000 HS codes and over 20,000 subcategories set by the World Customs Organization (WCO). The AI can make optimal decisions based on varying national requirements.

Moving Away from Fragmented Customs Management

Many companies still rely on different customs brokers in each country, resulting in:

– Fragmented data
– Unclear costs
– Inconsistent use of FTAs

Maersk asserts that such decentralized models are no longer sustainable.

Now is the time to shift to centralized customs powered by AI.

AI Can Also Handle Complex Regulations

Tariffs aren’t the only concern anymore.

Other non-tariff barriers are becoming more complex, including:

– CBAM (EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism)
– Deforestation regulations
– Labor, safety, and product standards

This tool includes a “regulatory screening” feature that alerts users in advance if a shipment risks violating sanctions, regulations, or legal compliance.

Conclusion: From Burden to Weapon

This launch signals that customs and tariffs are no longer just operations — they’re strategic business issues.

“We didn’t know” is no longer an excuse.

Maersk’s AI customs tool may turn customs from a “burden to avoid” into a weapon to protect cost and trust.

Technology that transforms global logistics and supply chains is now in motion.