Belfast Chamber Expresses Concern At Brexit Proposal

The voice of business in Belfast has warned that the UK Government's plan for a Brexit Deal risks increasing the cost of trading with the EU.

The Belfast Chamber for Trade and Commerce urged negotiators to seek a new outcome that avoids the economic damage and "serious disruption" to supply chains likely under the current proposals.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Irish border plan would take the whole of the UK out of the EU customs union, meaning a new customs border between NI and the Republic of Ireland would be inevitable.

Mr Johnson hopes the impact of such a border could be minimised by any checks taking place away from the border.

In terms of the single market, the proposal would see NI follow EU rules on agriculture, food safety and industrial goods, which the UK would not be bound to- effectively creating a border in the Irish Sea.

Chief Executive of the Belfast Chamber, Simon Hamilton expressed concern that the proposal will make it harder for local businesses to trade with both the EU and the UK.

He said: "Belfast Chamber members have been clear and consistent in their desire to see an orderly and business friendly Brexit. We have also made it clear that we want businesses to be able to trade with the EU without a hard border and with the rest of the UK unencumbered.

"We are therefore deeply concerned that the Prime Minister's proposals do neither and run the risk of increasing the cost of doing business with the EU and seriously disrupt vital supply chains. Belfast Chamber urges all sides to engage in further negotiations aimed at achieving an outcome that is orderly and which avoids the undoubted damage that a No Deal Brexit would do to our economy."



(JG/CM)