Policy & Compliance
Government trade strategy: Implications for the freight sector
A new industrial strategy aimed at boosting UK trade presents both opportunities and challenges for the freight forwarding sector
T he UK government’s new industrial strategy, published in June, sets out a plan to strengthen the nation’s competitive position in global trade. The main aim of the strategy is to boost exports and, in particular, to address the long-standing weaknesses in goods trade. For the freight forwarding industry and BIFA Members this represents potentially an opportunity and a challenge at the same time. Increased trade activity will bring higher demand for customs expertise, efficient supply chain management, and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing policy measures. The strategy builds on the recognition that post- Brexit trade patterns have shifted significantly. Government analysis acknowledges the persistent decline in export of goods, contrasting with a steady growth in export of services. This separation led to the decision to prioritise investing in manufacturing, advanced technology and infrastructure to make UK goods more competitive internationally. Expanding business The aim is to support businesses to trade and grow with investment in the Customs Declaration Service, better integration of government systems, and tangible improvements to services at the border. It also notes the voluntary standards for customs intermediaries, seeks to agree sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) simplifications with the EU, and refers to delivering a Single Trade Window to create a modern, streamlined UK border. These measures are seen as a solution to reduce friction, lower costs and improve the UK’s attractiveness as a trading partner. This policy direction seems to have been influenced by the trade performance since the UK left the EU and the transition period ended. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) implemented in January 2021 marked a new era for UK trade flows. The Aston University Unbound: UK Trade Post-Brexit report (2024) used modelling to compare actual performance with a “no-Brexit” scenario. It found a sustained decline in UK-EU trade between 2021 and 2023, with exports down over a quarter and imports falling by nearly a third. Export diversity narrowed sharply, and the gap between actual and projected trade widened over time. UK exporters have increasingly shifted towards non-EU markets, while EU exporters have largely maintained their UK presence. Official statistics from the Office of National Statistics and the government’s UK Trade in Numbers platform confirm this mixed picture. Goods imports from the EU
rose sharply in the years after Brexit before easing slightly in 2024, while services
imports have grown steadily year-on-year. On the export side, goods trade peaked in 2022 before two years of decline, whereas services exports have increased consistently, driven by business, professional and technology services. Interestingly, in 2024 the US became the UK’s largest export market,
“ The Aston University report found a sustained decline in UK-EU trade
between 2021 and 2023, with exports
down over a quarter and imports falling by nearly a third
14 | September 2025
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