An integrated import/export system includes a database of records relating
to a plurality of shipments of goods, a database server and an
application server. The application server communicates with the database
server to provide members of a supply chain for a shipment of goods an
opportunity to modify records relating to the shipment. As the shipment
moves through the supply chain, the records relating to the shipment may
be repeatedly updated and accessed by interested parties such as customs
brokers and government officials. A central repository for such data
minimizes errors from repetitive data entry and provides a more complete
source of information relating to the shipment than is typically
associated with a shipment at any time in transit.