Agentic AI in global trade compliance: Autonomy, risk and the EU oversight imperative

Abstract

Agentic artificial intelligence (agentic AI) systems capable of autonomous decision making are increasingly being deployed in global trade compliance to enhance speed, accuracy and responsiveness. Applications such as automated customs classification and real-time sanctions screening offer operational efficiencies, but also introduce significant legal, operational and ethical risks — particularly under the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act), which becomes fully applicable in August 2026. This paper examines how agentic AI reshapes the trade compliance landscape and why its deployment increases exposure to costly errors and regulatory liability. It argues that the opacity, scalability and decision-making autonomy of agentic systems amplify existing compliance challenges and complicate explainability, auditability and error remediation in the absence of robust governance frameworks. The paper further explores how compliance functions must evolve from output-focused monitoring toward supporting AI life cycle governance, human oversight and continuous post-market monitoring, while emphasising that primary responsibility for AI governance and accountability should rest with practitioners and corporate leadership rather than being delegated to trade compliance teams. Drawing on a comparative analysis of regulatory approaches across the EU, US, China and selected other jurisdictions, the paper advances a human-centric oversight model designed to preserve accountability, traceability and legal certainty. It concludes that integrating governance, risk management and operational controls is essential to enabling responsible use of agentic AI in international trade compliance. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.