The UK government has released its final plans for the new Border Target Operating Model (“the Model”). The Model was initially set for implementation from October this year and has now been delayed to January 2024. The UK Government has agreed to this delay of three months following input from public consultation from the private sector and stakeholders.

On 31 March 2023, the UK announced that it will join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), joining 11 jurisdictions (including Mexico, Japan, Canada and Australia) across the Asia-Pacific region and becoming the first European country to do so. While the UK already has existing bi-lateral trade agreements with 9 of the 11 CPTPP jurisdictions, the biggest benefits will arise as other jurisdictions join the bloc (with applications to join by jurisdictions including China, Taiwan and Ecuador already submitted).

On 15 March 2023, the Government announced its Spring Budget 2023, which included some long awaited changes to the current Customs regime. Broadly, the announcements capture improvements following the Government’s 2022 Call for Evidence on an independent Customs regime.