The tense post-Brexit relationship between London-the UK and the European Union faces further tensions on Wednesday, when the UK demands a major change in trade rules agreed by both sides.
Brexit Minister David Frost presents a proposal to facilitate trade agreements in Northern Ireland, Britain’s only region bordering the block of 27 countries. The divorce agreement agreed before the UK departs means that customs and border checks must be carried out on some goods moving between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
This regulation aims to open the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, an EU member state. This is an important pillar of the Northern Ireland peace process. But they offended British members of Northern Ireland. They say they have reached the Irish Sea border, weakening relations with other parts of Britain.
The UK accused the EU of taking a “purist” approach to the rules that are causing unnecessary bureaucracy in businesses and called on Brock to show “practicalism.”
The UK has threatened to unilaterally suspend some of the agreements that, if not changed, would be the main escalation of the dispute, but is not expected to take that step this week.
The deal “is not sustainable in the way it works at the moment,” Frost said Monday.
“All options are on the table,” he said.
The EU says Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government was well aware that there was a check when it signed the Brexit agreement.
“The UK has decided to leave the European Union’s single market, apply trade rules, and apply red tape to goods leaving the UK and entering the UK,” said Thomas Burn, Ireland’s Minister for Europe. Stated.
Last month, both sides gave breathtaking time by postponing the ban on the transfer of chilled meats such as sausages from England, Scotland and Wales to Northern Ireland until the end of September.
The “sausage war” is the hottest element of the UK-EU conflict, raising concerns that Northern Ireland supermarkets may not be able to sell the classic breakfast sausages.
Archie Norman, chairman of food and fashion chain Marks & Spencer, said the new rules mean there will be a “shelf gap” in Northern Ireland for Christmas.
“This Christmas, I can already tell you, it’s not worth the risk of trying to get through it, so we have to make a decision to exclude the product for Northern Ireland “Hmm,” he told the BBC.
Jill Laures