The business community has issued a plea to UK and European Union (EU) negotiators, urging both sides to quickly resolve their differences around the Northern Ireland protocol.
The Northern Ireland Business Brexit Working Group said soaring inflationary pressures mean a quick resolution to the current standoff is imperative to protect the province’s consumers who are expected to see the largest fall in discretionary spending of all UK nations in the coming months.
It said the EU needs to show “much more ambition” in tackling the unnecessary burden placed on goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain (GB) which are at no risk of entering the EU. Importers have complained of red tape and additional costs as a result of the new regulations which have been introduced under the protocol for all imports, regardless of whether their final destination is Northern Ireland or if their final destination is the Republic or other areas of the EU.
Meanwhile, the group, which is made up of a range of organisations representing a large portion of businesses in Northern Ireland, warned companies here risk huge reputational and other risks under the UK government’s mooted plan to implement a dual regulatory scheme, one which would allow companies to choose between complying with either UK or EU rules.
“For too long this issue has been dominated by inflexibility and intransigence but Northern Ireland is now facing into the most difficult of winters,” the group said in a joint statement. “It is our view that the scale of the current economic challenge is such that it demands a swift resolution to the impasse.”
“The need for an urgent resolution is readily apparent, but it will become much more acute as we move through the second half of this year. It remains our firm belief that through agreement, with ambition, flexibility and compromise from both sides, a balance between upholding much needed access to the GB market and protecting the EU single market is achievable. The EU and the UK, acting together, have a responsibility to deliver this.”
The Northern Ireland Business Brexit Working Group is made up of the Dairy Council, Federation of Small Businesses, Hospitality Ulster, Institute of Directors, CBI NI, Logistics UK, Manufacturing NI, Mineral Products Association Northern Ireland, NI Grain Trade Association, NI Meat Exporters Association, Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Northern Ireland Retail Consortium and Ulster Farmers Union.
