Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury James Murray confirmed on 5 November that the development of the Single Trade Window (STW) in the 2025 to 2026 financial year has been paused due to financial challenges. He added that the government will consider the role of the STW and will provide an update as part of the next phase of the Spending Review, reporting in late Spring 2025.
This delay means that the STW will not be available for use to submit Safety and Security (S&S) declarations, as part of phase three of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) from 31 January 2025.
Instead, S&S declarations will need to be made via the government’s existing S&S GB service, which entails costs – either to purchase the software required to make declarations, or to pay a customs agent to do this. In addition, as the S&S GB does not support multiple consignments under one declaration, there is a significantly higher administrative burden for groupage operators.
Logistics UK Head of Trade, Nichola Mallon said: “The news that development of the Single Trade Window has been paused and it won’t be available to support traders in meeting Safety and Security requirements under Phase 3 of the BTOM has been met with disappointment across the industry.
"The objective of the STW, to deliver a one government approach at the border, has long been campaigned for and it was a key benefit amidst all of the additional burdens and costs facing members trading and moving goods. It is important that government focuses now on what can be achieved in reducing the burden on traders and streamlining trade."
Alongside the Fresh Produce Consortium and the Horticultural Trades Association, Logistics UK wrote to the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs and the Department for Business and Trade on 6 November, to request a meeting to discuss shared concerns across the supply chain in respect of the implementation and impact of the Border Target Operating Model.
This means that the STW will not to be available for use to submit Safety and Security (S&S) declarations, as part of phase three of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) from 31 January 2025.
Instead, S&S declarations will need to be made via the government’s existing S&S GB service, which entails costs – either to purchase the software required to make declarations, or to pay a customs agent to do this. In addition, as the S&S GB does not support multiple consignments under one declaration, there is a significantly higher administrative burden for groupage operators.
Logistics UK alongside the Fresh Produce Consortium and the Horticultural Trades Association, wrote to the Department for Rural Affairs and the Department for Business and Trade on 6 November, to request a meeting to discuss the implementation and impact of the Border Target Operating Model.
Logistics UK Head of Trade, Nichola Mallon said: “This is a cost that the logistics industry cannot just absorb, not least because our members already operate on incredibly narrow margins and are facing rising operating costs that are putting pressure on their ability to keep trading.
"Businesses and consumers need goods to arrive as swiftly and seamlessly as possible and it is encouraging to hear that more time is to be made available to iron out issues and implement solutions to ensure that the supply chain can continue to move smoothly.
“While a new introduction date has yet to be confirmed by the EU, it is vital for our sector that the UK government maintains close conversation with its European counterparts to ensure that the test of Member State readiness has, at its core, the smooth flow of freight and trade across the Channel; a critical GB EU supply chain route."
