British Chambers welcome proposals for new protocol agreement

Reacting to news of a proposed agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said:

“The BCC has long been calling for a negotiated solution to the trading difficulties caused by the initial version of the protocol.

“Businesses in both Northern Ireland and Great Britain have been calling for a considerable reduction in checks and documentary requirements to move everyday goods across the Irish Sea. We will be closely considering the legal texts and their full implications, but this appears to be a positive step toward achieving this goal.

“The Green Lane proposal should offer a green light to future prosperity in Northern Ireland.

“But more broadly businesses in the UK will welcome the potential for stabilising relations with the EU.

“There is now the potential to move to a new phase of co-operation on trade, regulation, climate, migration and supply chain issues.

“With the UK economy teetering on the cusp of a recession this could help drive growth for both Northern Ireland and the UK more widely.

“We hope the UK Government, EU member state governments, and the EU institutions will seize this opportunity to improve our relationships, cut costs and remove red tape for exporting businesses.”