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Brexit: DUP’s Jeffrey Donaldson slams Northern Ireland protocol

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President Biden has repeatedly warned the UK he will not sign a free trade deal with Britain if the Good Friday Agreement risks being undermined by London’s push for changes to the Protocol. On multiple occasions, he has called on the Brexit mechanism to be implemented in full.

The warnings from the White House have enraged ministers who argue they are calling for changes to the Protocol because the international treaty itself is currently a threat to the Northern Ireland peace process.

Mr Lewis will meet with members of Mr Biden’s administration and Congress to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to the Good Friday Agreement.

He will also outline in person why the Protocol must be reformed.

Unionists argue that bureaucratic customs checks introduced as a result of the Brexit deal are having a damaging impact on the UK’s internal market.

They say checks on goods travelling to the province from Great Britain are destroying the Northern Ireland economy and pushing firms away from doing business across the Irish Sea.

Last week, the DUP brought down the Stormont power-sharing Executive in protest at the continued implementation of checks.

First Minister Paul Givan resigned, forcing Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill to also give up her position.

The DUP has vowed not to restore power-sharing unless customs checks are removed.

The Westminster Government believes the action has vindicated its view that the Protocol is responsible for damaging the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Ahead of Mr Lewis’s trip today, Northern Ireland minister Lord Caine said US officials would be “very influential” in maintaining stability in Northern Ireland.

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It is hoped they will help ease tensions by encouraging the UK and EU to come to a diplomatic solution on the Protocol.

London and Brussels have been locked in talks for months over the implementation of the Brexit withdrawal agreement in Northern Ireland.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has been meeting with the European Commission’s Maros Sefcovic for intense negotiations on the matter.

The UK wants to see an end to all checks on goods that are not at risk of entering the EU single market through the Republic of Ireland from the north.

It also is demanding an end to the European Court of Justice’s oversight of the agreement.

However, Brussels says the Protocol must be implemented in full, causing a deadlock in talks.

On Monday, Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns told MPs the Government “remains absolutely committed” to resolving the issue of the Protocol.

He added: I would just like to say that the Secretary of State (Brandon Lewis) is in close contact with the party leaders, with the Government of the Irish Republic and others.”

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