Newry Chamber representatives met with Cabinet Office Minister, David Lidington on Friday 27th April at Norbrook Laboratories.
Speaking during his visit with local businesses, he said: “We’re very clear that when we leave the EU, we leave the single market and the customs union but the Prime Minister has also said that she wants a customs agreement with the EU. She said that she wants to get close alignment on industrial goods and that the UK is willing in the negotiations to consider binding agreements about future convergence over goods.”
He said he had sought to reassure people in border areas that the Government was working “very energetically and with great determination” to resolve the border issue.
Mr. Lidington said the Government was working towards “significant progress” on the complex border issue by June and full agreement by October.
He met with business representatives in both Newry and Dundalk who he said expressed, “obvious, understandable concern” at any prospect of a hard border.
“I gave a very strong assurance that the common travel area will continue, that’s now been agreed by the UK and the EU together so individuals doing their shopping, visiting doctors, have nothing to fear. We are working very energetically and with great determination on making sure that businesses do not face a hard border either.
Prime Minster May has said repeatedly that ensuring no hard border on the island of Ireland is a fundamental strategic objective of our negotiating strategy and that remains the case.”