UK shelves £110m frictionless post-Brexit trade border project

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Lauren Almeida and Joanna PartridgeFebruary 17, 2026 at 09:30 AM

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The UK government has shelved its "single trade window" (STW) project, designed to simplify post-Brexit trade border processes, after spending £110 million on contracts with Deloitte and IBM. Promised in 2020, the STW aimed to create a single digital platform for importers and exporters by 2025, but was paused in 2024 due to cost concerns. Government responses indicate no further spending since January 2023, with the program effectively closed. While the government states "policy development" continues, there is no timeline for implementation. The Labour government had also pledged to deliver the STW, but is now negotiating closer trade alignment with the EU to reduce border checks, potentially delaying the STW further.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

National Audit Office 50% Mike Lewis 50% Financial Times 50% Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) ×260% Keir Starmer 60% TaxWatch ×260% Deloitte ×270% IBM ×270% European Union ×380% United Kingdom ×290%

Keywords

post-brexit trade 100% single trade window 90% border processes 70% trade border 70% government spending 60% border controls 50% trade strategy 40% eu alignment 40%