BORIS Johnson has said that the only way there will be a trade border down the Irish Sea post-Brexit will be “over my dead body”.
During a visit to Northern Ireland, the Prime Minister reiterated his promise that businesses in the region would enjoy unfettered access to markets in England, Scotland and Wales.
He has also agreed to “intensify” partnership arrangements with the Republic of Ireland and said that he felt more effort could be put in to working on bilateral deals.
Johnson said it was important to have the Northern Ireland protocol, which ensures the region follows some of the EU’s rules to allow freedom of movement of goods and services across the Irish border, but added: “There will be no border down the Irish Sea – over my dead body.”
Business leaders in Northern Ireland have expressed concern red tape on goods crossing from Great Britain could make some trade unviable.
The next round of Brexit talks, between the Prime Minister’s adviser David Frost and the European Union’s Michel Barnier, is set to begin in Brussels on August 18.
In a tweet, Frost, who was not at the meeting in Northern Ireland, said: “We go in good faith to talk constructively about all the issues.
“Our assessment is that agreement can be reached in September and we will work to achieve this if we can.”
Under the protocol, if no wider trade deal is secured with the EU, tariffs would be paid on goods travelling from Great Britain into the Republic of Ireland and the rest of the EU via Northern Ireland.
Which goods are at risk of doing so has still to be decided in negotiations with Brussels, with the EU keen to ensure Northern Ireland does not become a backdoor entry point to its single market.
The port of Larne in County Antrim is preparing to install a border control post and the UK has announced extra funding for borders with the EU.
Johnson met Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin in Hillsborough Castle, County Down, yesterday.
The Prime Minister outlined hopes for greater co-operation with Ireland now that Britain had left the EU.
Martin said both sides knew that they needed to avoid another economic shock following Covid-19.
“I think where there’s a will, there’s a way,” he said.
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