Northern Ireland

Westminster committee to probe prospects for traders' 'unfettered access' to British market

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee will look at 'unfettered access'
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee will look at 'unfettered access' The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee will look at 'unfettered access'

WESTMINSTER'S Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry into the potential effect of new customs arrangements on trade between Britain and Northern Ireland.

The inquiry will examine the nature of the customs checks and processes that businesses could face alongside the possible consequences of the new arrangements on the volume and profitability of trade.

The British government has repeatedly promised that businesses from the north will continue to enjoy "unfettered access" to markets in Britain when the Brexit transition period concludes at the end of this year.

Committee chair Simon Hoare said there was an urgent need for clarity on customs arrangements for east-west trade under the Northern Ireland protocol element of the Withdrawal Agreement.

"Despite government promises of unfettered access, it now seems likely that additional paperwork will be required to move goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland," he said.

"Meanwhile, businesses remain in the dark about how they can get their goods to market after the transition period."

The committee is seeking written evidence on a number of issues, including whether the protocol will spell unfettered access for Northern Ireland businesses to the markets in Britain and what customs checks, processes, declarations and infrastructure improvements will be required.