Logistics UK meets with Senior Ministers to discuss NI Protocol

Logistics UK – as part of the Northern Ireland Business Brexit Working Group (NIBBWG) – yesterday (11 January 2023) met the Foreign Secretary, The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP, to discuss the ongoing and future impacts of the Northern Ireland Protocol on NI trade, and to discuss solutions that will provide its members with much-needed trading certainty moving forward. Nichola Mallon, Head of Trade and Devolved Policy at Logistics UK comments: “Logistics businesses are the backbone of the Northern Ireland economy. They keep goods moving, and smooth trade between Northern Ireland, GB and the EU is vital for our sector and for economic growth.

In today’s meeting we emphasised the need for a negotiated outcome between the UK and the EU on implementation of the Protocol that reduces administrative and cost burdens, and delivers stability, certainty, simplicity and affordability for businesses. We were encouraged by the Foreign Secretary’s positive approach and understanding of the issues our member businesses face. “It is encouraging to see the Westminster government actively engaging with industry and we look forward to taking part in further scheduled meetings with Leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, and Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, later this week.

Logistics UK welcomes the opportunity to represent our members’ interests at the highest level, engaging in the conversations that are driving solutions. We urge politicians from both the UK and EU to reach a timely resolution that provides greater certainty and clarity for member businesses, as well as the wider Northern Ireland economy.” Logistics UK is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods.

With COVID-19, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc.

Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.

For more information about the organisation and its work, including its ground-breaking research into the impacts of COVID-19 on the whole supply chain, please visit logistics.org.uk