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The exact nature of the cargo – source, destination and value – are all described on a bill of manifest and given to the driver.

He sets off and rolls towards the Swiss frontier.

His departure point is inside the European Union, Switzerland is not.

At the Swiss border does he meet stationary columns of juggernauts in mile-long queues waiting to cross?

Absolutely not.

He rolls to the custom post and hands down his paperwork.

This is "scanned" in seconds and its contents sent in a nanosecond to a central computer miles from the border.

The customs officer nods at the driver and he rolls into Switzerland.

At his destination the sealed unit is opened, the contents checked and the computer is electronically advised that all is in order.

The computer works out, along with hundreds of thousands of other cargoes crossing the border, who owes what in customs fees and to whom.

There is no hard border so no delays.

No opening of the freight container, no examination of its contents, no delay and no cheating.

All the debts are settled bank-to-bank by credit transfer.