Following reports that the UK Governments was planning to unilaterally revise parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, this live panel saw the Commission’s Co-convener Hilary Benn MP, Irish politician Neale Richmond and former Conservative MP David Gauke discuss the diplomatic and economic implications for the UK if it takes unilateral action.

The Commission’s first annual report was published on the 11th March 2022 and it proposed 21 concrete interventions, aimed at improving cooperation and trade between the UK and its closest neighbours.

In this special evidence session, members of the UK Trade and Business Commission visited Belfast for its first in-person meeting. This meeting focused on the operation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, hearing from representatives of the Northern Ireland business community about their experiences of operations since it came into force, interactions with those negotiating and implementing arrangements, and views on what needs to change.

Led by Peter Norris and Hilary Benn, the UK Trade and Business Commission’s delegation landed early on the morning of Thursday 3rd March 2021.

The session looked at the trading situation under the NI Protocol at the time of the meeting, the benefits and disadvantages, and the proposals for change from the UK and EU. We then examined the implications of further future courses of action, including the use of Article 16.