CCES is committed to excellence in research and strives to undertake nationally and internationally competitive research projects. It has attained a reputation for high-quality research in the areas of Customs, international trade and border management where it has particular depth and strength of academic and research capability.
Our research activities and projects include examining national, regional and international trends to identify best practice approaches to border management and to provide empirical evidence to inform strategic decision making. We ensure that all our programs and related services reflect contemporary and emerging issues that impact on business of customs, excise and border management through our ongoing applied research activities.
CCES research activities are designed to provide a scientific basis for policy decision-making, and the Centre’s Enhancing the Competitiveness of Australia’s International Traders research project is one such example.
CCES staff have published a number of books and research papers over the years, a selection of which can be viewed below.
2023
Widdowson, D. (2023) Interesting trends in Customs university programmes. WCO News No.100, pp.30-31
Widdowson, D., Blegen, B. & Kashubsky, M. (2023). Characteristics of Trade Data for Border Management Agencies. CCES Research Paper Series, Canberra: Centre for Customs and Excise Studies.
2022
Widdowson, D. (2022) Cross-border windows of opportunity. In Proceedings of the 16th International scientific conference ‘History of trade, taxes and duties’, University of Customs and Finance, Dnipro, pp. 157-162.
Widdowson, D. (2022) Customs in times of crisis. In Proceedings of the International conference ‘Customs Service of Ukraine in War and Post-War Conditions’, University of Customs and Finance, Dnipro, pp. 5-7.
Widdowson, D., Blegen, B. & Kashubsky, M. (2022). Advance Cargo Risk Assessment by Customs and Border Authorities. CCES Research Paper Series, Canberra: Centre for Customs and Excise Studies.
Widdowson, D., Blegen, B., Preece, R., Davie, S., Kashubsky, M., Meille, B. & Long, A. (2022). Reporting Models for Imported and Exported Goods. CCES Research Paper Series, Canberra: Centre for Customs and Excise Studies.
Widdowson, D., Blegen, B., Preece, R., Davie, S., Kashubsky, M., Meille, B., & Long, A. (2022). Scanning for Border Threats. CCES Research Paper Series, Canberra: Centre for Customs and Excise Studies.
2021
Widdowson, D. (2021) World Customs Organization global webinar series: Managing HR through a crisis and beyond. Keynote address 19 January 2021: Leading with 2020 hindsight. World Customs Journal, 15(1), pp. 139-145.
Widdowson, D., Blegen, B., Short, G., Lewis, G., Garcia-Godos, E. & Kashubsky, M., (2021) Single window in the context of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. Journal of Customs and Trade, 42(3), pp. 28-53 [In Chinese]
Widdowson, D. & Kashubsky, M. (2021) UCC Navigator – A New Innovating Tool That Helps to Overcome EU Customs Legislation Complexity. CCRM Journal for Practitioners in Europe, Issue 9.
Widdowson, D. (2021, November 19) Australia’s Trade Single Window of Opportunity. East Asia Forum.
2020
Hesketh, D. (2020) The WCO’s impact to date and lessons learned: the road from Columbus to Competency. World Customs Journal, 14(2), pp. 99-108.
Widdowson, D. (2020) Managing customs risk and compliance: an integrated approach. World Customs Journal, 14(2), pp. 63-80.
Blegen, B. (2020) Re-examining border clearance in the age of e-commerce. World Customs Journal, 14(2), pp. 81-98.
Kashubsky, M. & Hintsa, J. (2020) Customs capacity building through Partnership in Customs Academic Research and Development (PICARD): achievements and future directions. World Customs Journal, 14(2), pp. 197-223.
Widdowson, D (2020) Welcoming address. Green Channel 11(1) pp 7-8.
Preece, R. & Neher, A., (2020) The extent of the illicit cigarette market in Australia: using publicly available data in a ‘top‑down’ approach to estimation. World Customs Journal, 14(1), pp. 3-16.
Widdowson, D. (2020) Submission to the Parliament of Australia Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Inquiry into Australia activating greater trade and investment with Pacific island countries, 11 February 2020.
Widdowson, D. (2020) Submission to the UK Parliament Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Inquiry into Unfettered Access: Northern Ireland and customs arrangements after Brexit, 31 March 2020.
Widdowson, D. (2020) Supplementary submission to the UK Parliament Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Inquiry into Unfettered Access: Northern Ireland and customs arrangements after Brexit, 1 May 2020.
Widdowson, D. (2020) Evidence to the UK Parliament Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Inquiry into Unfettered Access: Northern Ireland and customs arrangements after Brexit, 30 April 2020.
Widdowson, D. (2020) Genuine NI-GB trade should not be subject to customs controls, The UK in a Changing Europe, King’s College London, 13 May 2020.
2019
Lewis, G. (2019) Softening hard borders through tech: Brexit and the Irish border. World Customs Journal, 13(1), pp. 167-170.
Preece, R., (2019) Australia: Addressing the illicit flows of tobacco in Australia. In Dutta, S. (2019) Countering Illicit Tobacco Trade: A Global Review of Country Experiences Washington, DC: World Bank, pp. 15-49.
Preece, R., (2019) Excise tax reforms across ASEAN since the start of its Economic Community. World Customs Journal 13(1), pp. 3-20.
Widdowson, D., Blegen, B., Short, G., Lewis, G., Garcia-Godos, E. & Kashubsky, M., (2019) Single window in the context of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. World Customs Journal, 13(1), pp.101-128.
2018
Preece, R (2018) Excise taxation in ASEAN: An analysis of the need to develop a coordinated approach to excise tax policy as part of implementing the ASEAN Economic Community. Centre for Customs & Excise Studies, Charles Sturt University.
Preece, R., Oczkowski, E., Bnadara, Y. & Nuchaswan, K (2019) Development of an econometric model of alcohol taxation in Vietnam. World Customs Journal, 12(2), pp. 133-168.
Widdowson, D., Blegen, B., Short, G., & Kashubsky, M. (2018) National committees on trade facilitation. World Customs Journal, 12(1), pp. 27-48.
Widdowson, D., Blegen, B., Short, G., Lewis, G., Garcia-Godos, E., Kashubsky, M., Baker, H. & Juratowitch, B. (2018) Review of Australia’s progress towards implementation of the Single Window concept, CCES Research Paper Series, Canberra: Centre for Customs and Excise Studies.
Widdowson, D. (2018) Human competencies and administrative uniformity. In Muscat, I. (ed) The EU Customs Union @50: Concept to continuum. Malta: Malta Customs, pp. 132-135.
2017
Hassan, T. (2017) An analysis of prime determinants and constraints of Bangladesh’s export market: Stochastic frontier gravity model approach. World Customs Journal, 11(2), pp. 77-92.
Phan, T. (2017) Identifying illicit timber trade between Vietnam and China. World Customs Journal, 11(1), pp. 13-22.
Widdowson, D., Blegen, B., Short, G. & Kashubsky, M. (2017) Review of Australia’s National Committee on Trade Facilitation, CCES Research Paper Series, Canberra: Centre for Customs and Excise Studies.
Widdowson, D. (2017) Regulation of border management in Mexico. In Review of the Regulation of Freight Transport in Mexico. Paris: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
2016
Kashubsky, M., Pavlenko, O. & Chentsov, V. (2016) Customs Scientific Journal: recent developments and future plans, World Customs Journal, 10(1), pp. 135-137.
Preece, R. (2016) Reforming automobile excise taxes in the ASEAN region for pre-growth and pro-environment outcomes. World Customs Journal, 10(1), pp. 45-72.
Widdowson, D. (2016) Managing the border: a transformational shift to pre-export screening. World Customs Journal, 10(2), pp. 3-16.
Kashubsky, M. (2016) Offshore oil and gas installations security: An international perspective. Routledge, New York.
Kashubsky, M. (2016) Maritime security threats and challenges arising from offshore oil and gas exploration and production in the Arctic. Strategic Insights, No.61, pp.19-23.
Widdowson, D. (2016) WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement: What it means for Australian Exporters. International Business Today, pp. 14-16.
2015
Preece, R. (2015) Automotive Excise Taxation: What Reforms are needed to Best Utilise the ASEAN Economic Community? World Customs Journal, 9(1), pp. 15-36.
Widdowson, D. (2015) 10 years of promoting the academic standing of the customs profession. World Customs Journal, 9(2), pp. 111-113.
Widdowson, D., Blegen, B. & Kashubsky, M. (2015) Facilitating Trade through Trusted Partnerships. In Proceedings of the Inaugural INCU Global Conference ‘Trade Facilitation Post-Bali: Putting Policy into Practice’, International Network of Customs Universities, Canberra, pp.285-299.
Kashubsky, M. (2015) Recognition of University Customs Curriculum: Issues, Challenges and Possible Solutions. In Proceedings of the Inaugural INCU Global Conference ‘Trade Facilitation Post-Bali: Putting Policy into Practice’, International Network of Customs Universities, Canberra, pp.247-251.
Widdowson, D. (2015) The role of Customs scholarship in capacity building. In Studies on harmonization of customs law and contributions of the academy for updating and improving the WCO. Brussels: International Customs Law Academy, pp. 207-222.
Widdowson, D. (2015) 10 years of promoting the academic standing of the Customs profession. WCO News, October, pp. 79-80.
2014
Preece, R. (2014) Developing an Excise Working Tariff Schedule for South East Asia: A Resource for Policy Makers. World Customs Journal, 8(1), pp. 189-192.
Widdowson, D., Blegen, B. & Kashubsky, M. (2014) Facilitating trade through inter-agency cooperation. In Customs Policy: Economics, Law and Practice, Warsaw, Poland, pp. 423-432.
Widdowson, D. (2014) Regulatory harmonisation: An essential ingredient of international trade facilitation. In Customs Policy: Economics, Law and Practice, Warsaw, Poland, pp. 257-267.
Widdowson, D., Blegen, B., Kashubsky, M. & Grainger, A. (2014) Review of Accredited Operator Schemes: An Australian Study. World Customs Journal, 8(1), pp. 17-34.
Widdowson, D., Blegen, B., Kashubsky, M. & Grainger, A. (2014) Review of Accredited Operator Schemes. CCES Research Paper Series, Canberra: Centre for Customs and Excise Studies.
Kashubsky, M. (2014) Can an Act of Piracy Be Committed Against an Offshore Petroleum Installation? Electronic Supplement to the Russian Juridical Journal, 5(1), pp. 5-14.
Widdowson, D., Weppner, G., Yi, J. & Baldwin, W. (2014) Utilisation of Australia’s free trade agreements. Canberra: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
Widdowson, D. & Short, G. (2014) Review of licensing provisions. CCES Research Paper Series, Canberra: Centre for Customs and Excise Studies.
Widdowson, D. (2014) Review of customs licensing arrangements and accredited operator programs. Paper presented at the Australian Federation of International Forwarders National Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 28-30 May 2014.
Widdowson, D. (2014) AEO: A plurilateral approach to mutual recognition. Journal of Contemporary Economic and Business Issues 1(2), pp. 67-77.
2013
Preece, R. (2013) The Effective Contribution of Excise Taxation on Non-alcoholic Beverages to Government Revenues and Social Objectives: A Review of the Literature. World Customs Journal, 7(1), pp. 21-38.
Kashubsky, M. (2013) Protecting offshore oil and gas installations: security threats and countervailing measures (Part II). Journal of Energy Security, December 2013.
Kashubsky, M. (2013) Protecting offshore oil and gas installations: security threats and countervailing measures (Part I). Journal of Energy Security, August 2013.
Kashubsky, M. & Morrison, A. (2013) Security of offshore oil and gas facilities: exclusion zones and ships’ routeing. Australian Journal of Maritime and Ocean Affairs, 5(1), pp.1-10.
Widdowson, D. (2013) Bordering on corruption: An analysis of corrupt Customs practices that impact the trading community. World Customs Journal, 7(2), pp. 11-22.
Ndonga, D. (2013) Managing the risk of corruption in Customs through single window systems. World Customs Journal, 7(2), pp. 23-38.
Lewis, G. (2013) Integrity: an age-old problem for Customs that demands a new approach. World Customs Journal, 7(2), pp. 107-118.
Widdowson, D. (2013) The role of Customs scholarship in capacity building. Paper presented to the International Customs Law Academy’s World Meeting of Customs Law, ‘Studies on Harmonization of Customs Law and Contributions of the Academy for updating and improving the WCO Instruments’ 4-6 September 2013, Brussels.
Widdowson, D. & Preece, R. (2013) Post Clearance Audit: Reference and Implementation Guide. Washington, DC: World Bank.
2012
Kashubsky, M. (2012) Can an act of piracy be committed against an offshore petroleum installation? Australia and New Zealand Maritime Law Journal, 26(2), pp.163-171.
Holloway, S. & Rae, J. (2012) De minimis thresholds in APEC. World Customs Journal, 6(1), pp. 31-62.
Preece, R (2012) Excise taxation of non-alcoholic beverages in Thailand: products, approaches, rates, and administration. World Customs Journal, 6(2), pp. 59-72.
Preece, R (2012) Excise Taxation of Key Commodities across South East Asia a Comparative Analysis Ahead of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. World Customs Journal, 6(1), pp. 3-16.
Widdowson, D. (2012) Risk-Based Compliance Management: Making it Work in Border Management Agencies. Washington, DC: World Bank.
2011
Preece, R & Zhang, S., (2011) Designing and Implementing Customs Business Partnerships: a Possible Framework for Collaborative Governance. World Customs Journal, 5(1), pp. 43-62.
Kashubsky, M. (2011) Offshore petroleum security: analysis of offshore security threats, target attractiveness, and the international legal framework for the protection and security of offshore petroleum installations. Doctor of Philosophy Thesis, Faculty of Law, University of Wollongong, 2011.
Kashubsky, M. (2011) A chronology of attacks on and unlawful interferences with offshore oil and gas installations, 1975-2010. Perspectives on Terrorism, 5(5-6), pp.139-167.
Widdowson, D. & Holloway, S. (2011) Core border management disciplines: Risk based compliance management. In McLinden, G., Fanta, E., Widdowson, D. & Doyle, T. (eds) Border management modernization. Washington DC: World Bank, pp. 95-113.
Widdowson, D. & Holloway, S. (2011) The national security environment: Strategic context. In McLinden, G., Fanta, E., Widdowson, D. & Doyle, T. (eds) Border management modernization. Washington DC: World Bank, pp. 297-316.
Widdowson, D. (2011) Raising the academic standing of the Customs profession. WCO News, 64, pp. 29-30.
2010
Hesketh, D. (2010) Weaknesses in the supply chain: who packed the box? World Customs Journal, 4(2), pp. 3-20.
Holloway, S. (2010) Measuring the effectiveness of border management: designing KPIs for outcomes. World Customs Journal, 4(2), pp. 37-54.
2009
Lewis, G. (2009) The impact of ICT on Customs. World Customs Journal, 3(1), pp. 3-11.
Holloway, S. (2009) The transition from eCustoms to eBorder management. World Customs Journal, 3(1), pp. 13-25.
Hesketh, D. (2009) Seamless electronic data and logistics pipelines shift focus from import declarations to start of commercial transaction. World Customs Journal, 3(1), pp. 27-32.
Blegen, B. (2009) US Importer Security Filing: advance electronic data under the SAFE Framework meets the real world. World Customs Journal, 3(1), pp. 73-85.
Widdowson, D. & Holloway, S. (2009) Maritime transport security regulation: policies, probabilities and practicalities. World Customs Journal, 3(2), pp. 17-42.
2008
Buyonge, C. (2008) Organisational design in Customs in Sub-Saharan Africa: a critical evaluation. World Customs Journal, 2(2), pp. 53-62.
Preece, R. (2008) Key controls in the administration of excise. World Customs Journal, 2(1), pp. 73-92.
Buyonge, C. & Kireeva, I. (2008) Trade facilitations in Africa: Challenges and possible solutions. World Customs Journal, 2(1), pp. 41-54.
Holloway, S. (2008) Achieving sustainability in customs capacity building. World Customs Journal, 2(2), pp. 63-70.
Widdowson, D. (2008) The role of capacity building in achieving consistent application of international instruments. World Customs Journal, 2(2), pp. 71-76.
Kashubsky, M. (2008) Offshore energy force majeure: Nigeria’s local problem with global consequences. Maritime Studies, 160, pp.20-26.
2007
Buyonge, C. (2007) Emerging issues on the role of Customs in the 21st century: an African focus. World Customs Journal, 1(1), pp. 31-37.
Widdowson, D. (2007) The changing role of Customs: Evolution or revolution? World Customs Journal, 1(1), pp. 31-37.
Kashubsky, M (2007) Marine pollution from the offshore oil and gas industry: Review of major conventions and Russian law (Part II)’. Maritime Studies, 152, pp. 1-15.
Widdowson, D. (2007) WTO Trade Facilitation Negotiations Support Guide. Washington, DC: World Bank.
2006
Kashubsky, M. (2006) Marine pollution from the offshore oil and gas industry: Review of major conventions and Russian law (Part I). Maritime Studies, 151, pp. 1-11.
Kashubsky, M. (2006) Customs regulation of offshore resources installations. Australian Resources and Energy Law Journal, 25(1), pp.104-111.
Kashubsky, M. (2006) Russia calls home its fleet. Lloyd’s List DCN, No.596, p. 9.
Widdowson, D. (2006) Border protection and trade facilitation – are the two compatible? Presentation to the Korea Research Society for Customs Conference on Globalization of Customs Administration & Border Protection, Seoul, Korea, May 2006.
Widdowson, D. (2006) The Australian Accredited Client Program – A Work in Progress. Presentation to the 18th European Customs Law Conference, Esslingen, Germany, June 2006.
Widdowson, D. (2006) Raising the Portcullis. Presentation to the WCO Partnership in Customs Academic Research and Development Conference, Brussels, March 2006.
2005
Kashubsky, M. (2005) Giants of Sakhalin: companies vie for stake in energy project, Lloyd’s List DCN, No.564, pp.1, 13.
Widdowson, D. (2005) International trade facilitation: the Customs imperative. Presentation to the APEC Workshop on the WTO Trade Facilitation Negotiations, Kuala Lumpur, March 2005.
Widdowson, D. (2005) Customs partnerships: A two-way street. Presentation to the European Customs Conference organised by the European Forum for Foreign Trade, Customs and Excise Bonn, Germany 10 June 2005.
Widdowson, D. (2005) Managing risk in the customs context. In De Wolf, L. & Sokol, J. (eds) Customs Modernization Handbook. World Bank, Washington DC, pp. 91-99.
2003
Widdowson, D., Harrison, M., Gulbransen, P., & Spong, M. (2003) The Revised Kyoto Convention: A Pathway to Accession and Implementation. Singapore: Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat.
Widdowson, D. (2003) Intervention by Exception: A Study of the Use of Risk Management by Customs Authorities in the International Trading Environment. (Doctor of Philosophy Thesis). University of Canberra, Australia.
1998
Widdowson, D. (1998) Managing Compliance: More Carrot, Less Stick. In Chris Evans & Abe Greenbaum (eds) Tax Administration: Facing the Challenges of the Future. Prospect, Sydney, pp. 99-104.
