Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Accepted
Prioritise minimisation of Northern Ireland trade burdens, building trust and maintaining clear communication.
Recommendation
The Committee urges the Government to prioritise the minimisation of trade burdens in Northern Ireland as a fundamental element of any future UK- EU reset. This should be achieved through a strong emphasis on building trust between the Parties, maintaining clear and consistent communication 45 with the Northern Irish business community and civil society, and ensuring Northern Ireland remains central to discussions on trade easements. (Recommendation, Paragraph 26)
Government Response Summary
The government states that the Windsor Framework has already removed trade burdens and that UK-EU Summit outcomes will deliver further benefits, particularly on agri-food. It confirms it is keen to progress further discussions on the SPS agreement and will continue to engage with Northern Ireland stakeholders and businesses to implement the Windsor Framework and secure benefits from the new SPS agreement.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Windsor Framework removed a number of the burdens, paperwork and checks associated with the Northern Ireland Protocol. The UK-EU Summit’s outcomes will deliver further significant practical benefits in Northern Ireland, smoothing the flow of agri-food and plants in particular. We are now keen to progress the further discussions on the SPS agreement so that the benefits are felt as soon as possible across the whole of the UK. However, in the meantime and until the new agreement is in place it remains important to deliver the full, timely and faithful implementation of the Windsor Framework. We have strong relationships with Northern Ireland Parties and Northern Ireland stakeholders through the enhanced engagement mechanisms established under the Windsor Framework. We will continue to engage Northern Ireland stakeholders to support them to implement the Windsor Framework, whilst also ensuring the benefits of the new SPS agreement can be agreed and implemented in a timely way. We continue to work closely with, and support, businesses in Northern Ireland.