Northern Ireland’s business leaders on Thursday lashed out at British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s new Brexit plan as costly and unworkable.
Johnson’s strategy would tackle the Irish border issue by taking Northern Ireland — part of the United Kingdom -— out of the European Union’s customs union but keeping it aligned with EU member Ireland’s rules and regulations for goods.
“The Prime Minister’s long awaited proposal is hugely disappointing,” said Aodhon Connolly, director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium industry body.
“It is clear that he has not listened to the needs of the Northern Ireland business community or Northern Ireland households.”
The plan would effectively create two temporary economic borders —including one in the Irish Sea between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland.
The proposal would create an “all-island regulatory zone” on the island of Ireland covering all goods including agrifood.
This means Northern Ireland sticking with EU goods regulations to ensure they are the same on both sides of the border. The move aims to eliminate all regulatory checks to trade in goods across the border. Yet Connolly labelled them unworkable and costly for companies.
“This will lead to complexity, delays, tariffs, VAT and cost rises that will make NI goods less competitive and squeeze our household budgets,” he added.