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behind this – the complex , interconnecting global supply chain behind these seamless movements – there are seismic changes underway .
Modernization is long overdue
These changes are much needed . In many ways , international trade is still conducted as it was in the 1700s , with documentation requiring a wet signature to cross borders . But today , digitalization and smart technologies give us the chance to replace these manual processes that underpin how business is conducted .
In the UK , where my organization was formed , these changes have become even more pronounced in recent years . In 2020 , the UK Government published an ambitious vision , outlining principles for the UK border to become one of the most effective in the world . The Border Target Operating Model ( BTOM ) brings a new , digital process-based approach to trade that will lead to stronger security and biosecurity , combined with lower-friction borders .
BTOM is being progressively introduced now . The process started last month in January 2024 , and imposes a number of new checks on certain EU imports coming into the UK , including food and beverage products for the first time since Brexit .
The guidelines and procedures outlined by BTOM are designed to manage the flow of
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