New NI trade deal ‘encouraging’
In a series of tweets, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak outlined how the original Northern Ireland Protocol had been replaced with the new Windsor Framework, which is expected to ease some post-Brexit trade issues.
This included changes to the Green Lane where the Government said it had “removed any sense of a border in the Irish Sea” and a ban on sausages and chilled meats has been lifted with physical checks and tests scrapped unless fraud, smuggling or disease is suspected.
Sunak also stated changes to VAT or excise and reforms to alcohol duty will now apply to the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland.
We have replaced the original Northern Ireland Protocol and announced the new Windsor Framework.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) February 28, 2023
What's changed? Firstly, the Green Lane
❌ Before: Lengthy paperwork
✅ Now: Simple digital declaration
We’ve removed any sense of a border in the Irish Sea. pic.twitter.com/HYkYZeXUvL
UKHospitality (UKH) chief executive Kate Nicholls described the first details of the new deal were “encouraging and appear to address the key concerns of hospitality businesses”.
Finer detail
“The breakthroughs on easing trade flows, VAT, excise duty and state aid would seem to resolve many of the major sticking points raised by UKH,” she added.
“The people and businesses of Northern Ireland should see the benefits in this as soon as the summer, through the planned cut to alcohol duty in August, which previously would not have been the case.
“It will also enable them to benefit from any future cut to VAT, which we have consistently urged the UK Government to implement for hospitality.
“We will continue to work with our partner organisation, Hospitality Ulster, to review the finer detail, which we hope will deliver stability, certainty and growth for venues across Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”
The Northern Ireland Business Brexit Working Group – a collaboration of 14 industry bodies, including Hospitality Ulster – released a statement reacting to the announcement.
Important step
It said: “We commend the considerable efforts made by the EU and the UK Government to find joint solutions on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
“From the outset, our priority has been to secure an agreed, durable outcome that protects our consumers and enable our businesses to thrive.
“Reaching an agreement is an important step in securing the stability and certainty businesses have been seeking.
“While we do not doubt many issues will have been resolved, others may remain and/or arise in future so we would encourage the UK and EU to continue with a constructive, solutions-focused approach as businesses adjust to the new arrangements.
“It is our shared passion this agreement will deliver a unique platform that unlocks economic growth and investment but we will now need time and space to work through the technical data with our members.”
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) also responded to the announcement of the new Windsor Framework with chief executive Emma McClarkin welcoming the agreement.
She said: “It is good news progress has been made on this deal. We hope it will deliver a level of clarity and certainty for pubs and brewing businesses in Northern Ireland, which has been needed for some time, although we recognise some issues will inevitably remain.
“Allowing pubs and breweries across all devolved nations to benefit from reforms to beer duty is particularly welcome and we look forward to continuing to work closely with both businesses and [the] Government to help ensure a fair taxation deal for our industry everywhere.”
