The UK government is to begin trials next year of a “smart” customs border involving cutting-edge technologies that it hopes will reduce trade frictions for British importers.
UK companies will this week be asked to submit bids to pilot the new system, with the aim of starting trials at a port in May, according to senior officials in Whitehall.
The announcement of the plans, described as building a “Rolls-Royce system for moving goods”, comes as the government prepares to begin implementing full customs checks on EU imports from January.
To smooth the post-Brexit border, the UK has committed to spending £180m to build a “single trade window” system by 2025, which will streamline customs processes by enabling UK border agencies, including HM Revenue & Customs and health authorities, to share information in real time.
Among the ideas that are expected to be tested in the mid-2022 trials are shipping container seals that automatically alert the authorities when tampered with, and the geo-tracking of goods using GPS technology to catch any lorry making unscheduled stops or diversions.
Officials said that in time, such technologies should help create highly auditable supply chains that can be easily monitored, allowing businesses to do more self-assessment than currently possible away from the border.
They added the government hoped it would avoid the pitfalls of previous state-run IT projects by going direct to UK businesses and the technology industry. “We want big and bold solutions,” said one official.
This is definitely the right way to go.
Source: FT
In Stockholm over the weekend woth the entore family to visit our oldest daughter.
Today we went to the Old Town Christmas maerket, ranked by TIME magazine as top 10 in the world.
We also did some Xmas shopping, visuted the famous food market & will go for a dinner in one of the most popular restaurants in Stockholm tonight.
A great day with all our three kids and their families.
The U.S Senate has confirmed Chris Magnus to Lead Customs and Border Protection, as new Commissioner of USCBP.
The Senate on Tuesday approved President Biden’s choice to run Customs and Border Protection, filling a key post that has oversight of one of the president’s earliest and biggest challenges: handling the historic spike in illegal crossings at the nation’s southern border.
With the 50-47 votethe police chief in Tucson, Arizona is set to become the first openly gay commissioner of the federal government’s largest law enforcement agency. He will also be the first confirmed leader the agency has had since 2019. Senator Susan Collins of Maine was the only Republican to vote in favor.
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