About The Trade Facilitation Commission
Having a secure yet open border is the ultimate aim
The Trade Facilitation Commission is an independent group of leading customs, border and trade policy experts covering the movement of goods and people. Many of the TFC have served in senior positions in government in the UK, Europe and USA.
The group has been convened under the Chairmanship of former Treasury Minister, Lord Agnew to advise the incoming government on the policy options and recommendations available to it to increase UK exports and lessen trade disruptions at the UK border to enable goods to flow more easily.
Our economic modelling suggests that significant GDP per capita gains are possible if trade can be facilitated in the ways that we suggest. Furthermore, that trade openness has the single largest impact on GDP per capita and provides an achievable route to economic growth.
About The Commissioners
Lord Agnew
Chairman and Former Minister of State at the Cabinet Office (2020-2022) responsible for border readiness related to UK's exit from the European Union.
Robert Hardy
Co vice-Chairman. Founder and CEO of the EORI Group of companies, specialising in simplified customs processes. AIBF UK-Irish Business Person of the Year 2024.
Shanker Singham
Co vice-Chairman. One of the World's leading experts on international trade, competition and regulatory reform. Co-Chair of the Growth Commission.
Lars Karlsson
Global Head of Trade and Customs at Maersk. Former Director of World Customs Organisation and Director General of Swedish customs.
Sandra Strong MBE
Managing Partner at Strong & Herd. Specialises in UK customs compliance and British exporting. Awarded an MBE for exceptional service to British exporters in 2023.
Ana Hinojosa
Former Federal Senior Executive Leader with over 34 years of experience in law enforcement, international trade, international policy development and standard setting.
Chris Salmon
Former senior advisor to Michael Gove MP on Brexit Border Readiness. Co-Founder of clearBorder a firm specialising in trade training.
David Gledhill
Former senior Executive at three of the world’s major Ports (Salalah, New York and Felixstowe) and led internationally significant investment projects in each of them.
Tony Smith CBE
Former Director General of UK Border Force and Director of Borders Canada. Awarded a CBE for vital role in delivering 2012 London Olympics. Chairman of IBMATA (Int Border Management and Technologies Association)
Kevin Franklin
Former Director of Customs Transformation at HMRC. Associate of the Cabinet Office infrastructure and projects authority.
Frank Dunsmuir
Leads the Digital Transformation team at IOE&IT, projects include Kenyan Single Trade Window, UK EcoSystem of Trust, Freeports as well as projects working with Europoort in the Netherlands.
Kevin Shakespeare
Director of Strategic Projects and International Development at IOE&IT (Institute of Export and International Trade). Dean of the UK Customs Academy.
Aidan Reilly
Aidan Reilly is a retired former HMRC director. During his 33 years in HMRC he undertook many senior tax and customs policy roles. In his last five years he was the director of Custom Policy and Strategy.
TRADERS
There is no trade without traders! The Commission works closely with traders of all sizes to identify continuous process improvement and access to new and emerging markets.
HMRC
Brexit, and the increase in the volume of declarations, has created a fresh approach from HMRC, concentrating on simplifications, facilitations and closer engagement with traders.
PORTS & AIRPORTS
United Kingdom is an island nation with 120 commercial ports and 40 airports....and a channel tunnel! These are important touchpoints in international trade and vital to the success of Global Britain.
Mission Statement
To stimulate economic growth by facilitating trade, enabling UK businesses to achieve their full global potential, and establishing the UK's border as the most advanced and efficient in the world.
“Shaping the future of customs simplifications and border processes to enhance trade efficiency.”
360K
UK importers/exporters
100million
Customs declarations
£984 billion
Annual trade in goods
The Trade Facilitation Commission © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
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