London, UK: The UK government and European Commission have reached a deal aimed at fixing Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trade problems.
The deal, called the Windsor Framework, has been published. It rewrites the Treaty with a ‘Stormont Brake’ that means the UK can veto new EU goods laws if they are not supported by both communities in Northern Ireland.
It also provides for new ‘green lanes’ to remove a border in the Irish Sea and allows Northern Ireland to benefit from the same VAT, food, drink, and medicines as the rest of the UK. Exporters using the green lanes will have to provide only minimal paperwork.
The Stormont brake means that Northern Irish businesses can continue access the EU market but “EU law that applies in Northern Ireland under the framework is only the minimum necessary to avoid a hard border with Ireland and allow Northern Irish businesses to continue accessing the EU market”.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak said: “Goods destined for Northern Ireland will travel through a new Green Lane, with a separate Red Lane for goods at risk of moving onto the EU.
“In the Green Lane, burdensome customs bureaucracy will be scrapped. It means food retailers like supermarkets, restaurants and wholesalers will no longer need hundreds of certificates for every lorry.”
Business and industry bodies have responded positively to the agreement. Shane Brennan, chief executive, Cold Chain Federation, said: “Under the Protocol, cold chain operators working between Great Britain and Northern Ireland have had to contend with great uncertainty, frequent disruption, and hugely increased bureaucratic burden and expense. Today’s announcement is a very welcome step towards a much more efficient and sustainable system with the potential to remove most of the current practical problems, which will be better for consumers and businesses alike.
“There are important details that government will need to get right, such as paperwork requirements for the green lane and support for businesses in transitioning to the new systems, but today is a crucial and long-awaited milestone towards allowing the food industry to get on with the job at hand.”
Nichola Mallon, head of trade and devolved policy, Logistics UK, said: “Today’s announcement that an agreement has been reached is therefore positive news for industry, and Logistics UK will now take time to work through the technical details with members.”
Rupert Ashby, chief executive, British Frozen Food Federation, said: “The settlement reached on the Northern Ireland Protocol is good news for businesses throughout the frozen food supply chain which are looking forward to more efficient trade relations within the UK and to the EU.
“For frozen food producers, distributors and retailers which have faced difficulties since the Withdrawal Agreement, this marks the beginning of a positive new chapter.
Tony Danker, director-general, Confederation of British Industry, said” “this breakthrough will allow businesses and politicians to turn their attention to economic growth and delivering greater prosperity for everyone across NI.”
William Bain, head of trade policy, British Chamber of Commerce, said: ““Businesses in both Northern Ireland and Great Britain have been calling for a considerable reduction in checks and documentary requirements to move everyday goods across the Irish Sea.
“We will be closely considering the legal texts and their full implications, but this appears to be a positive step toward achieving this goal.
“With the UK economy teetering on the cusp of a recession this could help drive growth for both Northern Ireland and the UK more widely.”
