DUP leader Gavin Robinson has called on the UK Government to protect Northern Ireland's interests as the party met with the Secretary of State in Belfast amid an escalating financial situation resulting from a prospective trade war between the US and EU.
This comes after earlier today, the party's Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley challenged Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald to make clear that, in any tariff war between the EU and the US, she will prioritise the interests of the Northern Ireland economy.
Responding to calls for clarity on her position on whether Northern Ireland should be subjected to the tariff rate imposed on either the UK or the EU, the Minister said: "I think in the first instance, it is important to say none of us actually has clarity at the minute in respect of what tariffs mean.
"I have had the opportunity in recent days to engage with our business community and key business leaders and trade union leaders and the lack of clarity, the lack of information is something that is being highlighted by them. We, of course, as a department, are working hard to understand the Executive Order itself. I know of businesses that are subject to the tariffs that have already been implemented in relation to the steel and aluminium export into the states and who have goods that are caught up at customs. in terms of being processed at the minute.
The minister said that it was a "very complex situation" and that the complexity of the rules around origin of goods made in NI and exported.
"We do have very integrated supply chains across the island that has been highlighted over the many torturous years of the Brexit negotiations and has resulted in the trading arrangements that we do now have and I think we have to recognise the complexity of all of that.
"The narrative that we are not so bad off because we only got 10 per cent tariffs isn't a good one because ten per cent tariffs are bad; all tariffs are bad for business.
"So I think it is important to recognise the impact this is going to have. I think all of the uncertainty as well is destabilising for businesses, and a key concern as well that was reflected in the discussions as well earlier this week is that this has the potential not just to impact business in relation to the tariffs themselves but the fact that this could turn into a global slowdown and I think that is where none of us wants to be."
Speaking after an exchange at the Economy Committee at Stormont, Jonathan Buckley said: “The Minister has stated that her priority is protecting the ‘all-island economy’, yet that is not her remit. Her responsibility is to champion the interests of Northern Ireland’s economy and its business community above all else.
"I have businesses contacting me, calling for politicians to stand up for Northern Ireland as the impact of tariffs is felt across the global marketplace. Yet it appears ideology is driving the Sinn Fein Minister to place as much emphasis on the Republic of Ireland as on Northern Ireland.
"That approach simply won’t work. Not only is the Republic of Ireland facing tariffs of 20 per cent—double the 10 per cent faced by the UK—but because of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which Sinn Fein championed, we risk being caught in the crossfire of a trade dispute between the EU and the US.
"It’s time for the Minister to read her job description and focus on the role she was appointed to do—stand up for Northern Ireland and deliver for our local businesses and the wider economy.”
Speaking after meeting with the Secretary of State, Gavin Robinson said: “This was a useful opportunity to press the Secretary of State on the issues facing not just Northern Ireland, but the United Kingdom as a whole. The Prime Minister is right to state that he will act in the national interest, but that must mean the interests of all parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland.
"The Secretary of State must be Northern Ireland ’s voice within our national government and ensure steps are taken to protect businesses here, the local economy and the wider interests of Northern Ireland.”
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