Political will and pragmatism needed to keep trade flowing: NIRC

The NI Business Community met with with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove and Vice-President of the European Union, Maroš Šefčovič on Thursday 18th February. Speaking after the meeting, Aodhán Connolly, Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, said:“This was an important meeting but it must be the start of a comprehensive dialogue including the establishment of a business consultative body to ensure the EU and UK can hear business concerns and use the expertise of the NI business community in finding solutions to the challenges we face. 1 April presents a huge challenge to retailers and households in Northern Ireland. The end of the grace period on parcels and EHCs, plus customs requirements, will put unprecedented pressure on our supply chains.”

Stability

“To countermand these pressures, we need four things. Stability – to allow business to adapt to the changes and challenges of the protocol we need immediate extension to the grace periods. We need the certainty of a long-term workable solution that is done with business not to business. We need simplicity using things like digitisation and an auditable and certified supply chain which could deliver a much simpler Trusted Trader agreement, and a veterinary agreement to remove frictions. This needs to be proportionate to the low level of risk of UK retail goods coming into Northern Ireland going onto the Single Market due to the dead-end-host principle. That means once it is in Northern Ireland, it stays there.”

 Affordability

“And lastly, we need affordability. As both the EU and UK have said in recent weeks, this all must be done with the least disruption to communities in Northern Ireland. That means the costs of new processes must be kept to a minimum to allow us to continue to give NI households the choice and affordability they need. The business community has proven that it will use best endeavours to make things work. We now need the EU and the UK to show that they have the political will to live up to their side of the bargain.”