Do 3D Printers Bypass Customs?

By on November 17th, 2010 in Ideas

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There could be several interesting effects on business and society when 3D printers become widespread, and we’ve discussed a few of them in the past, including possible crime, for example. But here’s another one to think about: Customs Control. 
 
Most countries have some level of customs controls, in which imported goods are inspected for legality and sometimes taxed as well. This approach has worked fine for centuries, but things might get a little different in the near future when citizens have access to 3D printers that can reproduce many types of objects. 
 
In fact, as 3D printers get increasingly capable, the breadth of reproducible objects will only increase. Eventually citizens will be able to obtain many arbitrary objects by printing them instead of having them physically shipped across borders. 
 
But this means the objects will not be inspected by customs control. Objects of questionable legality could spontaneously appear within a country’s borders. And they certainly won’t be subject to the traditional tariffs and taxes. 
 
The only item crossing a border in this case is the digital 3D model, and it’s likely impossible to inspect. We can’t imagine a country sealing its electronic borders to perform searches of electronic files. 
 
Could this mean weapons could be “beamed” into another country without the need for smuggling in the future? Could knock-off designs copying brand name items be printed instead of emerging from a manufacturing plant in China? Will cross-border shopping wither?
 
Due to this and other similar situations, we think an object’s design will become a great deal more important as the number of 3D printers increases. 

By Kerry Stevenson

Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has written over 8,000 stories on 3D printing at Fabbaloo since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!

4 comments

  1. Wile yes a country can close it's border the files will still get there. Cheap 3D printing will change the world once the materials and quality can match what a factory can produce. Also you can see the writing on the wall the same way you could with the personal computer. It is just a matter of time at this point.

  2. Wile yes a country can close it's border the files will still get there. Cheap 3D printing will change the world once the materials and quality can match what a factory can produce. Also you can see the writing on the wall the same way you could with the personal computer. It is just a matter of time at this point.

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