What happened
Financial Times reports that the UK government, without wide public announcement, prematurely closed the "Single Trade Window" programme — a digital platform for submitting import‑export documents that was planned to launch by 2025. Under contracts with Deloitte and IBM the government has paid around £110m, but the project was paused in spring 2024, and from January 2025 no funds were being spent on it.
"The programme was 'prematurely closed.'"
— UK Treasury
Why it matters
This is not just a financial setback — it concerns trade efficiency and exporters' competitiveness. Trade experts interviewed by the FT say that the absence of a single digital tool complicates procedures and raises costs for businesses.
"The UK has spent a lot of money on a Single Trade Window. Pakistan did theirs for a third of the price and is starting to engage with China."
— Chris Southworth, Secretary General of the UK branch of the International Chamber of Commerce
What went wrong
According to the FT, the reasons are cost overruns and implementation complexity. Large government IT projects often face problems with contract management, system integration and cost control — and this case is no exception. Four customs consultants said they do not see signs of a swift project restart.
Implications for business and policy
For exporters this means a heavier administrative burden and a potential slowdown in cargo processing. For the government — an argument for reviewing procurement processes, contract transparency and approaches to digital transformation.
Conclusion: lessons for us
The UK's story is a useful case for countries moving toward digital modernization of borders. First, digital platforms should be built gradually, with clear cost controls and interim milestones. Second, transparency in private contracts and competition among suppliers is important to avoid overpaying. Experts agree that technology can significantly reduce trade barriers — but only with strict project management.
Rhetorical question: can we in Ukraine use this experience to avoid repeating the mistakes and make our trade borders faster and cheaper, not more expensive?
