Thread by @BestForBritain

“The reality is that it’s always easier to trade with those who are geographically near, that’s how it works.”

"Build on what’s there, repair the holes, be pragmatic, be realistic, be grown up politicians and not dogmatic" - spot on @EmilyThornberry 1/
kelo.com/2021/09/27/eu-…

'Thornberry’s first step would be to strike an agreement with the EU to resolve problems with the transportation of food between Britain and the EU, and Britain and Northern Ireland.'

Absolutely essential this is fixed before full import checks are brought in by UK on 1 Jan. 2/

'A veterinary deal could help rebuild trust with Brussels and open the door to mini agreements on a range of other difficult issues that were delayed or left unresolved by the 2020 deal.'

Exactly what we've heard during @UKTradeBusiness sessions... 3/

Back in April we were hearing from industry how important it is to begin negotiations with the EU on sanitary & phytosanitary goods - but these are issues that will take time to solve. We have only 3 months until full import checks begin...4/

https://twitter.com/UKTradeBusiness/status/1387763344967442432

The lack of progress on the NI Protocol has been described as 'groundhog day' for businesses. As @StephenFarryMP put it “The government needs to come clean on why they are resisting calls for a veterinary arrangement with the EU as a long term solution" 5/
tradeandbusiness.uk/news/groundhog…