Brandon Lewis rejects suggestion of ‘grace period’ over new GB-NI trade rules

A number of supermarket chains have expressed concern that increased red tape, and the related expense, could hinder the movement of many products into NI.

In an effort to protect its internal market, the EU wants to negotiate checks on goods coming from GB – through the ports of Belfast and Larne – as there will be no further checks monitoring their potential movement into the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Lewis said a specialist joint committee has intensified its discussions “to get businesses the answers they need as quickly as possible”.

“Hopefully the EU will see the logic and the sense of continuing to allow supermarkets to trade in the way they do today,” he told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Ulster programme on Thursday.

Some supermarkets have claimed that around 10-15% of their food range, including some chilled meats, might not be available in Northern Ireland because of proposed new regulations governing their transport from GB to NI.

“The problem is that we don’t know yet, and that I absolutely accept and appreciate,” he said.

“This is subject to the negotiations and discussions between the UK and the EU, not so much as part of the wider free trade agreement, but as part of the specialist joint committee.

“Those discussions have intensified...and we appreciate that this is something the supermarkets need to have a firm answer to absolutely urgently. We get that, and we are trying to provide that through those discussions with the EU.

“We are determined to get an outcome that ensures unfettered access.”

When pushed on the prospect of a ‘grace period’ required to allow businesses to adjust to the new rules, Mr Lewis said: “We will not be extending the transition period. There are certain things we have always said we will be phasing in over the course of next year.”

Asked to clarify if the UK had asked the EU to approve a grace period, he said: “No we haven’t.”

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