It is deeply disappointing and damaging to UK businesses that the Government has decided to abandon its commitment to the Single Trade Window (STW), despite having spent £110 million on the initiative. Introduced by the Conservatives in 2020 as a plan for “the world’s most effective border” by 2025, the STW was intended to “provide a gateway between businesses and UK border processes and systems, allowing users to meet their import, export and transit obligations by submitting information once, and in one place.”

Witnesses to our Inquiry into the Trade and Cooperation Agreement expressed strong support for the Single Trade Window. Richard Ballantyne, Chief Executive at British Ports Association, emphasised that: “there was definitely a need to modernise a lot of our processes,” and he described the STW as a “good idea.” William Bain, Head of Trade Policy for British Chambers of Commerce, also endorsed the initiative, stating it will deliver “key aims on simplification and digitalisation.” Dr Anna Jerzewska, Founder of Trade and Borders, told the Inquiry: “There’s a lot being done at the moment in terms of the Single Trade Window, modernising authorisations, modernising the way we exchange information with traders in terms of digitalisation and so on. I think that's all helpful.”

In 2024, the National Audit Office estimated that post-Brexit border controls cost the Government at least £4.7 billion. This decision will introduce further costs and administrative hurdles for UK exporters, particularly SMEs, making frictionless trade with the rest of the world more difficult and undermining our competitiveness. The lack of transparency from this Labour government regarding both the decision to cancel the delivery of the STW and its intended alternative approach precludes trade bodies and businesses from contributing meaningfully to the development of practical solutions to simplify and improve our international trade arrangements. CEF urges the Government to reverse rapidly this self-inflicted harm on the UK economy.