Host: Annik Sobing

Special Sponsor: PAX AI 

In this Simply Trade News Roundup, host Annik Sobing talks with Patrick Nieveler, CEO of Pasani Academy, a European training organization focused on customs and foreign trade law, about how trade compliance education is evolving across the EU. Patrick explains how he went from heading European customs for a German automotive manufacturer to founding Pasani after realizing that traditional two‑day, in‑person seminars were too broad and inefficient for busy cross‑functional teams like purchasing, sales, and R&D. Pasani instead built short, digital e‑learning modules (60–90 minutes) tailored to specific roles, along with update content for seasoned customs experts as laws change.​

The conversation compares EU and U.S. approaches to training, noting that while systems differ, core topics like export controls, tariffs, and classification are strikingly similar—and that cross‑jurisdictional knowledge is increasingly vital in a globalized supply chain. Patrick highlights current hot topics driving demand in Europe: Russia and Iran sanctions, the EU Green Deal framework (including CBAM, deforestation, and eco‑design rules), and the upcoming multi‑year overhaul of EU customs law expected to roll out between 2028 and 2038, with initial frameworks anticipated in 2026. He also stresses that these “non‑customs” environmental and product rules still directly impact customs declarations and clearance processes.​

Patrick and Annik discuss how companies are using Pasani’s blended learning model—baseline e‑learning plus targeted live sessions—to ensure participants arrive with common foundational knowledge, preventing advanced learners from being bored and beginners from being left behind. They also explore why trade professionals on both sides of the Atlantic should understand each other’s regimes: EU exporters handling U.S.‑origin goods must respect U.S. rules, and U.S. firms trading with the EU must consider EU‑specific obligations.​

AI features prominently as well. Patrick shares how Pasani uses large language models to translate courses into multiple EU languages and is developing an AI chatbot that can answer day‑to‑day questions, point users to relevant training modules, and help bridge the gap between theory and real‑world decision‑making—while still requiring human review and judgment.​

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why Patrick founded Pasani Academy and how short, role‑specific e‑learning fills a gap for cross‑functional trade training in Europe.​

How EU and U.S. customs/trade compliance systems compare, and why cross‑jurisdictional training is becoming essential.​

The top EU training topics right now: Russia/Iran sanctions, CBAM and Green Deal rules, deforestation and eco‑design regulations, and the planned EU customs law reform.​

How blended learning (baseline e‑learning + live sessions) solves the mixed‑knowledge problem in corporate training groups.​

How AI is being used to translate courses, support on‑the‑job Q&A, and connect everyday questions to deeper training content—without replacing human oversight.​

Key Takeaways

Trade compliance education needs to reach far beyond the “customs team” to purchasing, sales, R&D, management, and more.​

EU environmental and product regulations (like CBAM) may not be classic customs rules, but they directly affect import/export declarations.​

Both U.S. and EU companies benefit when they understand each other’s legal frameworks, especially for export controls and product flows.​

AI is already reshaping how training is delivered and used, but its outputs still need to be checked and contextualized by humans.​

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