Cross-border Research Association, CBRA, formally established in Lausanne, Switzerland in 2005, is an independent research institute focusing on advanced supply chain security, crime prevention, risk management, trade facilitation, cross-border trade and logistics, and public-private co-operation research, training and consulting – all this in the context of global supply chains and logistics systems. Other CBRA-competencies include international standardization work, particularly in connection of supply chain security management; development of quantitative models, including cost-benefit analysis; development of e-learning applications; as well as execution of scientific dissemination, particularly in the context of European FP7 and other research projects. CBRA works with both public sector and private sector actors, while carrying out this research, for the benefit of business and government practitioners, policy makers and academics alike. 

Examples of two key trade facilitation studies undertaken by CBRA in the past couple of years include:

Improving the Border Agency Cooperation Among the OIC Member States for Facilitating Trade (2016).  This project was commissioned by the Secretariat of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It is an evidence-based report on best practices in international and national border agency cooperation (BAC), incorporating a tangible BAC-roadmap for the 57 OIC members.

The Import VAT and Duty De-Minimis in the European Union- Where Should They be and What Will be the Impact? (2014). The study was mandated by the European Express Association (EEA), Belgium. It is an economic and consumer behaviour study to assess the optimum level for VAT and duty de-minimis levels across the European Union taking into account the cost of tax collection for public administrations and the cost of import processes and procedures for the private sector. The main outcome of the project was an economic model based on 10 million+ EU import records from the four main express carriers, pointing to the optimum of VAT and duty de-minimis threshold in the EU, when considering the total cost of tax collection between customs, tax, importer, freight forwarder / transport carrier.