Stuck in a loop on Brand Registry/ GTIN exemption

This is for a new brand. My existing brand I used GS1 UPCs for a bit, then registered my trademark through the accelerator and got brand registry. If I remember right, I got my GTIN exemption before brand registry and maybe something has changed.

For this new brand, I’d like to entirely avoid buying barcodes because it has been a total waste of money. The GTIN exemption page says I need to enroll in brand registry and get the GTIN exemption at the same time. The brand registry page says I need to include a list ASINs that I’m already selling for the brand in the application. And if I remember right, showing where I’m using the trademark is also part of the legal process for applying for the trademark (US).

So does that mean there’s no way around buying at least one UPC?