Streamlining UK-EU trade: The case for resuming the Single Trade Window

The digitalisation of cross border trade documents is recognised as a must have objective to go some way to easing the friction of UK EU trade post Brexit.

Technology virtually exists for a digital platform known as the Single Trade Window (STW), which would allow traders to submit all import, export and transit documentation and data through a single portal entry point. This would streamline linked customs and data transfer with government agencies. Progression would need multiple government departments to agree what data can be shared between themselves.

UK exports have fallen dramatically since the end of the Brexit transition period, some estimates note a decrease of 18% since 2019, and much higher procedural costs are faced by those remaining exporters. The National Audit Office estimates the post-Brexit border control cost to government to be £4.7 billion in 2024.

The planned Single Trade Window had promised to create the “World’s most effective border”, improve growth, allow more effective customs checks and reduce cost for traders.

However, despite spending £110m to date on its development, the Government has now paused the project indefinitely with a caveat that it remains, “committed to delivering a single trade window, recognising its potential benefits to trade, as per our trade strategy 2025”.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), which has long been an advocate for the STW, reports that the required technology already exists in various live trade corridor pilots.

The ICC summarises that the following STW policy objectives are achievable:
• Reduced administrative burden through single-entry data sharing
• Lower compliance costs by eliminating repeated submissions and document handling
• Faster border clearance through earlier, structured and trusted data
• Efficiency savings for government-better targeted enforcement
• Improved supply chain visibility and reduced delays
• Support for SMEs who can “plug & go” into the digital ecosystem via their existing systems
• Improved risk – based facilitation for trusted traders, enabling smoother movement of goods and scalability of compliant service provision

From a road freight perspective, the first building block of digitalising trade already exists with eCMR which is the digital version of the conventional international consignment note. The UK and most EU member states have already ratified this into legislation. The TIR Carnet, which allows goods to pass through multiple borders under a bond, is administered in the UK by the RHA under licence from the IRU. It’s seeing a noticeable increase in enquires as the possibility of connecting the UK to the Middle East by road is possible once again. The IRU has prioritised the transition of the paper-based system to a digital eTIR version allowing advanced TIR data to the customs points, plus advanced risk analysis by authorities.