Following an exchange in the Assembly yesterday with the Economy Minister, TUV leader Jim Allister has written to Mrs Dodds calling for the establishment of an InterTrade UK body to protect East/West trade.
The text of Mr Allister’s letter is reproduced below.
Dear Minister,
Re: NI/GB Trade
Further to our exchange in the Assembly arising from your statement on the last sectoral meeting on InterTrade Ireland, and given the dire challenges to NI/GB trade, I write to urge you to consider and promote an InterTrade U.K. body.
InterTrade Ireland came into existence pursuant to the Belfast Agreement as an aid to trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Now, we are faced with a situation where, because of the iniquitous Protocol, it is trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of our nation that needs facilitated and encouraged.
Accordingly, it seems to me that now would be an appropriate time to open discussions with the U.K. Government with a view to securing and funding the establishment and operation of an InterTrade U.K. body.
If there is justification for such a body on a North/South basis, how much greater now is the need on an East/West basis given the impediments to trade with our most important market.
It is a shocking commentary in itself on the destructive impact of the Protocol that such an internal U.K. body even needs to be considered, but given where we now are I believe you should commit to taking this matter forward.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Jim Allister