3D printing has interested me for a while. This article from Manufacturing Business Technology tells about some of the benefits. It talks about the international network of printers operated by Red Eye, which allows quick delivery of your object without long distance transport.
One thing that occurred to me: what happens to customs and duties in this scenario? Are countries allowed to collect duties on electronic designs, the bit patterns that pass through the internet to be manufactured? Are they collected an object at a time? Loss of customs revenue will be a big deal for some countries; and also countries will not be able to protect their designs through duties or embargoes.
Top Five Benefits of Additive Manufacturing (You Never Considered).
Supply Chain and Logistics 