By reducing the coordination of truth between so many parties to an offline, distributed data-structure, in a way that assures integrity mathematically. As alternative to the constellation of approaches (email, IT integrations, filing cabinets full of records, etc) currently in use. With a global peer-distributed database you can change the risks with your truth provider to risks that the data doesn't update. Depending on a lot of factors I think that may be more desireable

That said I don't work anywhere near international trade, just recalling some stuff I learned in an old college class

But you still have to trust the people doing the inspecting and certifying - or whatever. I'd be less worried about them altering information than them altering or substituting actual product.

That will always be the case, but given the ease of tracking all the transactions in the chain, you can find the point at which the product deviates. Of course, if every step on that chain has colluded, and produced false attestations, then there's no defense against that. But then, if all parties are coordinating then they've created their own supply chain independent of the one being tracked.

But, again, solutions to that already exist. Cheats to that system will be cheats to a blockchain system.