Business, Forwarding, Freight News, Logistics


BIFA calls on chancellor to relieve industry cost burden

[ November 26, 2025   //   ]

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is urging the Chancellor to use the Budget on Thursday 27 November to deliver targeted measures to strengthen the UK’s trade and support the logistics sector,

It warns that ongoing cost pressures, regulatory uncertainty and infrastructure constraints could undermine the UK’s post-pandemic and post-Brexit trading potential and emphasises that freight forwarders need a stable, modern, and efficient operating environment.

BIFA’s key Budget priorities include investment in UK border modernisation to accelerate delivery of the single point of information and ensure it is fully integrated, genuinely interoperable, and easy for SMEs to use. This requires proper funding to enhance digital customs systems, reduce duplicate reporting and unnecessary bureaucracy.

It is also looking for increased support for Customs and logistics workforce development, which could include expanded and simplified access to apprenticeships and funded training, including customs compliance and digital skills. Employers need to be incentivised to recruit and train new talent into the sector.

Costs could be contained by maintaining or expanding fuel duty freezes, possibly with targeted relief for essential logistics operations. It could also include a long overdue review and reform of business rates for warehousing and logistics hubs, which are experiencing disproportionate increases.

BIFA also wants a  commitment to ensuring that future infrastructure planning recognises freight’s national economic importance would also be welcomed and more policies that support UK traders and global competitiveness, such as simplified Customs processes for SMEs to encourage exporting.

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