DUP leader quizzes PM on impact of tariffs on NI

DUP leader Gavin Robinson quizzes PM Keir Starmer on impact of tariffs on Northern Ireland

Transcript

00:00The Prime Minister will know that many in the House will be assuaged by his suggestion

00:06that he will act in the national interest in relation to tariffs. But most will not

00:12have considered that in acting in the national interest, what occurs in Northern Ireland

00:17is no longer solely in his control. He knows that exports from Northern Ireland are UK

00:24imports—rightly so—yet imports to Northern Ireland could lay at the consequence of EU

00:31retaliatory action. In keeping all of his options open, now we have to live in a world

00:37with the consequences of the last Government with his support. Will he indicate that he

00:43is prepared to take steps to either exempt Northern Ireland from EU action or take retaliatory

00:50action if they do not?

00:52I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue, which is of real importance to his constituents

00:57and everybody in Northern Ireland. It is a very serious issue. That is why we need to

01:01be calm and pragmatic. That is what workers and businesses in Northern Ireland would want

01:06to see from this Government at a time like this. We are, as he would expect, looking

01:11carefully at the details of any retaliatory tariffs announced by the EU and what impact

01:19they might have on businesses. As he knows, where goods do not enter the EU, businesses

01:26can claim a full reimbursement of any EU duties paid. I reassure him that the interests of

01:32Northern Ireland are at the forefront of our decisions. He may want to know that this morning

01:36the Business Secretary spoke to the Northern Ireland Executive, because this is a serious

01:41issue and we need to work together to resolve it in the interests of everybody in Northern

01:46Ireland.