I am an international Customs Expert. I have worked with Customs, borders and trade my entire life. Over the last almost 35 years I have visited 169 countries, I have worked in more than 120 countries and I have visited hundreds of borders.
I have seen Customs Unions emerge and develop. I have seen borders in war zones. I have worked with Governments and Private Sector all around the world. From a Customs perspective, Brexit is the biggest change I have experienced so far. I am not sure that the magnitude of the change in relstion to trade was known by people. Sometimes I even wonder if it is known or accepted today.
This is the first time a country leaves the European Union, in fact it is the first time a country leaves a well developed Customs Union.
The level of trade integration in a Customs Union, with free movement of goods through one single territory is enormous. If you add on more than 60 free trade agreements and numerous Customs agreements, then it starts to get really complicated. Taking into account International Trade and Customs Law and international agreements – then you have the challenge of a lifetime ahead of you. Especially given the fact that international standards due to globalization – and post 9/11 – are more developed today than ever before in our history.
So far there have been too much focus on the Customs duty and tax levels and not enough talk about all the other border formalities related to a country leaving a common Customs territory. Here I refer to status of goods, rules of origin, safety and sanitary regulations, security, trade statistics – and all other border formalities.
Is or impossible to leave? Nothing is impossible. However there need to be new solutions in place to do so. If people like it or not.
I consider it my duty as International Expert in this field to give advise on how to solve these challenges. I believe that all experts available should do the same. After all, we are not that many around.
This does not mean that I am in favor or against Brexit. It only means that I have the knowledge and experience that is needed to solve some of the consequences of a decision caused by the UK referendum to leave the European Union.
We know today that fair trade is good, it developes our nations and build our societies stronger. We need trade. So I will continue to gove advise on how to make trade more facilitated while still safe and secure.
Lasr night Zlatan Ibrahimovic landed in Los Angeles and was received by fans at the airport.
Today Zlatan completed his first training with the team.
After that, Los Angeles Galaxy held a press conference with Zlatan. The vast majority of questions were about his decisionnto mive to MLS but he also got questions about tge Swedish national team. “I belong to Sweden and I am very proud to be Swedish. I am the new Sweden. People know what Sweden is thanks to me. I have put Sweden on the map. I’m not arrogant, but this is the fact. And if the National team coach needs me and if I’m 100 percent, the door is open”, Zlatan said and opened the door to pmsy in the World Cup.
“I do not need to prove anything, they said I was old when I came to England. But when I was there I took over the country. After three months, all the haters became my fans. I do not take the easy road, I will never duck for a challenge, I would never choose something comfortably”, he said. Then Zlatan resembled the movie character Benjamin Button, born as an old man and getting younger for each year of life. Something that broke down laughter at the Press Conference.
“I feel young, I feel like Benjamin Button. I was born old and will die young. Los Angeles called, and I answered. The lion is hungry. I am here to win”.
I have spent some time this week in Lisbon, Portugal. A wonderful city.
Lisbon has charm, great architecture, excellent food, beautiful places, very nice people – and naturally Port wine. Just to mention some pf the many good reasons for everybody to visit Portugal.
It is also a town with trams. Normally cities with tram systems, don’t have good football teams. I don’t know if it is scientifically confirmed but at least this is the situatiln fort he cities in Sweden. Anyway, Lsobon also have good soccer teams in Benfica, Sporting and Belenenses:
I also took a short day trip tour with the train to Caiscais, a famous small city Nortj of Lisbon. I had some wonderful sea food here.
Lisbon is one of the places you want to return to. Like my other favourite places; San Francisco, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town and Sydney.
If you have a chance – go. You will not be disapointed. See you on the streets of Lisbon!
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