UK businesses will be able to get a “unique insight” on upcoming changes to the British trade environment early next week in a free webinar on Monday (22 August).

Experts from the Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) will present on the government’s evolving policies on imports and exports, which will be published in a new Target Operating Model (TOM) paper this autumn.

Target Operating Model

The new border plan follows the UK’s decision in April this year to postpone remaining post-Brexit import controls on goods entering Britain from the EU.

The TOM is being developed in partnership with the devolved administrations and key industry stakeholders – including the IOE&IT.

The new model, which the government is aiming to introduce at the end of 2023, will include the digitalisation of customs and SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) controls.

‘Inside track’

IOE&IT director general Marco Forgione said the webinar is a great chance for traders to get an early view of the changes that will be included in the TOM, as well as an opportunity for them to provide their feedback on the plans.

“The IOE&IT is a key government stakeholder in the development of the TOM, providing our expertise and the insights we’ve had from our members,” he said.

“This webinar on Monday is a great chance to hear from our experts who have been at the forefront of the development of the plan and to get unique insight into what its implications will be for traders,” he added.

Informed decisions

Kevin Shakespeare, director of strategic partnerships and international development at the IOE&IT, will be speaking on the webinar alongside Suzanne Alecrim, a trade and customs specialist in the IOE&IT’s Academy.

Shakespeare urged traders to sign up to the webinar to “learn about how you can prepare now for the future of trade and to enable you to make informed decisions about how you want to trade from 2023”.

He also said that the IOE&IT is keen to hear from traders about what they think of the government’s evolving trade policies.

The IOE&IT will be inviting traders to provide their input in a survey that it will be publishing on Monday.

You can sign up to the free webinar – ‘The UK’s plan for trade: what we know so far and how you can have your say’ – here. It will be taking place at 1pm on Monday 22 August.