Press reports have indicated that, after more than £100 million has been spent on the Single Trade Window (STW), the border digitisation project has been effectively shelved.
First announced in November 2023, the STW aimed to be a new post-Brexit digital platform that would simplify the customs process by allowing businesses to submit import, export and transit information through one centralised system, streamlining regulatory compliance and reducing trade costs.
As a trade facilitation system, the STW was to minimise discrepancies and improve data consistency while ensuring goods meet safety, health and security standards.
The plan was that a gradual introduction would see the scheme fully operational by 2027. However, cost issues prevented progress and in November 2024 the Government announced that STW would be paused until at least 2026.
Now, Government responses to freedom of information requests submitted by the thinktank TaxWatch have suggested that no money has been spent on the project since January last year. This was followed by reports in the media stating that the project has been dropped.
Logistics UK has described the reports as deeply concerning and called for the Government to come up with a credible alternative.
Head of Trade Policy, James Mills, said: “Previous Government modelling suggested that a new post-Brexit border system, including efficiencies linked to a Single Trade Window, was expected to reduce costs for traders by around half a billion pounds a year.”
He highlighted that the UK has fallen from fourth to the 19th position in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index with exporters continuing to face unnecessary duplication and cost at the border.
Reacting to the reports, a Government spokesperson said: “We remain committed to delivering a Single Trade Window, recognising its potential benefits to trade, as set out in the trade strategy published in June last year.”
