In December 2020, the then government announced its intention to develop a UK single trade window – a single digital gateway “through which all information required to import and export can be submitted to border agencies”. The project was intended to reduce duplication, cut compliance costs and give border agencies a more coherent view of trade flows. 

The new service has been subject to delays and in November 2024, the current government announced that it was pausing delivery of the service. HMRC has continued to develop the policy in the background and is now re-engaging with industry to test whether the requirements identified in earlier rounds of stakeholder engagement still hold. 

HMRC is asking stakeholders to complete a survey and help shape the next phase of design.  

HMRC is interested in receiving views on: 

• issues with current government border systems, including duplicated data requirements and points of friction;
• where the biggest challenges lie for stakeholders and what they would prioritise at the border; and
• the European Union’s plans to build an EU customs data hub, and how the single trade window should take account of them.  

HMRC says that the survey will take approximately one hour to complete. However, it is not necessary to answer every question. The survey will close on 3 June 2026.