Northern Ireland a 'unique gateway' for trade

Northern Ireland remains a "unique gateway" for trade under the UK government's new deal with the European Union, the business secretary has said.

Jonathan Reynolds was speaking during a reception at Westminster for Northern Ireland businesses.

The government on Monday announced a new agreement with Brussels which will reduce post-Brexit checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Reynolds said the deal, which includes an agreement on agri-food products, would mean "fewer checks and less red tape".

When the UK left the EU, Northern Ireland remained part of the EU single market for goods to avoid a hard border with the Republic of Ireland.

It led to new checks and paperwork for products arriving from Great Britain - what became known as an 'Irish Sea border'.

The new deal involves the UK agreeing to align with EU rules on agri-food, meaning NI and GB will return to following the same set of rules.

It should mean no physical checks on GB food products at NI ports, but customs declarations will still be needed.

As well as fewer checks, Reynolds said the deals will "still protect Northern Ireland's position as a unique gateway for the sale of goods to the EU and the rest of the UK."

"We don't underestimate how important that is," he said. "And we want to make sure businesses can use it to their full advantage."

The event on Wednesday was also attended by Northern Ireland's First and Deputy First Ministers Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly, and Secretary of State Hilary Benn.

Speaking at the event, O'Neill said she wanted to "maximise the opportunities that we have, not least the fact that we have dual market access".

The Sinn Féin deputy leader said the "devil is still going to be in the detail" of the UK government's new deal with the EU.

But she said businesses she had spoken to "very much welcome" that an agri-food deal was "up there in of priorities".

Little-Pengelly, of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said there was "more to be done" to ease trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

"Particularly in relation to customs, for example, veterinary medicines outstanding," she added.

"So there's number of key barriers to that internal UK trade that is so important to Northern Ireland."

The reception was organised by Trade NI - an alliance of the business groups Hospitality Ulster, Retail NI and Manufacturing NI.

They described it as a "vital opportunity" to discuss the "key concerns of the business community with national political decision-makers".

Glyn Roberts from Retail NI said there were many challenges for businesses.

"The National Insurance increases have had a severe impact in Northern Ireland," he said.

"We have a higher density of small businesses, independent retailers.

"Dealing with this 'cost of doing business' crisis is a key challenge for government here and indeed government at Stormont."