Business, Freight News, Logistics

Logistics UK calls for Single Trade Window restart

[ February 10, 2025   //   Chris Lewis ]

The UK must invest in an efficiently functioning border including revitalising the Single Trade Window scheme launched by the previous administration if, says Logistics UK. The organisation has submitted the sector’s priorities to the Treasury as part of the government Spending Review.

Policy director Kevin Green, that Logistics UK member businesses are being let down by delays and disruption at the border. 

He added: “We are urging government to develop, thoroughly test and introduce a Single Trade Window (STW) for the UK. In effect this would enable a one border portal which would align with international systems, to remove the bureaucratic and cost burden that businesses now face as a result of the UK’s departure from the EU.”

He said: “To suspend work on the STW as happened in November 2024 is a false economy in the eyes of our members. The government has acknowledged that border friction with the EU is holding the economy back, and needs to do something about it. However, research by MDS Transmodal has shown that the UK’s importance for the EU as a trading partner has already dropped between 2017 and 2022, and the country now exports less to our nearest neighbours compared with other countries that export to the EU.

“Delays at the border, including customs inspections and charges, have also made a significant contribution to the UK’s decline in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI), which shows the nation has dropped from 4^th in 2014 to 19^th in 2023.”

Tags: Logistics UK