Northern Ireland breakthrough a positive step - Chamber

The government must build on the “spirit of collaboration ” with the European Union which has helped to finally break the deadlock over Northern Ireland, business leaders said today.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced yesterday that a new deal with the EU had been struck on post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.

Appearing alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a news conference in Windsor, Mr Sunak said the two sides had agreed to remove "any sense of a border" between Britain and its province.

The deal seeks to resolve the tensions caused by the Northern Ireland protocol, a complex agreement agreed by former PM Boris Johnson which set the trading rules for Northern Ireland.

The new agreement - named the Windsor Framework - aims to significantly reduce the number of checks and contains a number of key pillars - including a two-lane system for goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

A green lane will be in place for goods remaining in Northern Ireland, while a red lane will be for goods which may be sent on to the EU.

Products going through the green lane would undergo some checks and paperwork would be scrapped.

Red lane goods would still be subject to checks.

Bans on certain products - like chilled sausages - entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain would be removed, while Northern Ireland would also no longer have to follow certain EU rules, like on VAT and alcohol duties.

Restrictions on the movement of pets, parcels and medicines are also being relaxed.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has urged the Government to now work with the EU to navigate some of the other challenges facing business.

Henrietta Brealey (pictured), chief executive at the GBCC, said: “At the start of the year, our research revealed that almost a third of local businesses that were involved in moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland had faced greater difficulties in doing so over the last 18 months as the build-up of costs and additional red tape had a direct impact on trade levels.

“As always, the devil is in the detail and we and the Chamber network will take time to understand the nuance of the agreement and continue to advocate for our members.

“Regardless, the focus on putting the interests of business at the heart of a new deal is very much welcomed and this is a very positive step forward.

“Now the Government must build on this spirit of collaboration with the European Union to pragmatically tackle the ongoing issues facing businesses across supply chain disruption, labour market shortages, the rising cost of doing business and climate change if we are to drive economic growth across the country. ”

The GBCC has been working with the West Midlands Combined Authority to deliver a series of briefing papers, webinars and training courses to help businesses that have been impacted by Brexit. Find out more information.