ASM (Agency Sector Management) is urging the UK government to act decisively in reshaping its digital border strategy, following the effective shelving of the much-anticipated Single Trade Window (STW) project.
“The STW began as a step in the right direction, but the execution, what there was of it, missed the mark,” said Simon Adams, Program Manager at ASM.
“With fragmented systems and redundant data processes still in place, the cost to businesses and inefficiency at the border remain high.
“Rather than returning to a somewhat flawed ‘tell us once’ approach, we are calling for a pragmatic shift toward smarter data sharing between existing government systems.
“By enabling cross-departmental data reuse, such as linking customs declarations submitted via CDS with the Safety & Security requirements managed by the Home Office, trade can be relieved of unnecessary duplication, without sacrificing compliance, data quality or visibility.
“The technology to simplify trade already exists. What we need now is the political will to connect the dots. A unified data model and consistent interface standards across all government border systems would transform how UK businesses trade globally.”
Originally championed as part of the 2025 Border Strategy, the STW was designed to simplify and streamline the interaction between traders and UK border agencies.
However, following critical findings from the National Audit Office and growing fiscal pressure, the project stalled, leaving freight forwarders, customs brokers, and other trade professionals without the overarching digital solution they had been promised.
“The government must focus more on joining up what already exists. If the UK is serious about maintaining competitive trade post-Brexit, digital customs reform must be data-led, interoperable, and built in partnership with the industry,” said Adams.
Other international projects, like the EU’s Customs Data Hub, recognise the scale of such change, with longer-term roadmaps and realistic delivery timelines.
The UK, ASM says, needs to adopt a similarly strategic, long-term approach.
