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The DUP will attempt to amend the Internal Market Bill to ensure the UK sets the rules on state aid in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\nThe DUP will attempt to amend the Internal Market Bill to ensure the UK sets the rules on state aid in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
The Northern Ireland Protocol sets out that EU state aid rules will apply to commerce. State aid means a government cannot subsidize a product to allow it to be sold more cheaply in other parts of the EU to the potential detriment of businesses there.<\/p>\n
The DUP\u2019s Westminster chief whip Sammy Wilson lambasted former prime ministers Sir John Major and Tony Blair after they warned the UK\u2019s latest proposals could undermine the 1998 Belfast Agreement.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThe Internal Market Bill is far from perfect and that\u2019s why we will table amendments to the Bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe suggestion by the hero of the peace process brigade that the Bill rips apart the Belfast Agreement is complete and utter bunkum without any factual basis.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need to explain how making it easier for Northern Ireland to do business with our biggest market undermines the Belfast Agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need to explain how Northern Ireland companies having less paperwork undermines the Belfast Agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need to explain how our amendment which would ensure the UK sets the rules on state aid in Northern Ireland undermines the Belfast Agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch a tool is vital to help us fend off predatory behavior from our nearest competitor.\u201d<\/p>\n
The East Antrim MP said the Belfast Agreement contained one substantive mention about the Irish border and that related to Army demilitarization \u2013 which has already happened.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThe Belfast Agreement however is about respecting consensus, something which the Withdrawal Agreement ignored and drives a coach and horses through.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair and Major were less outspoken about the impact of a trade border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK despite its obvious impact on our economy and relationships in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Internal Market Bill as published is not the finished product but it is a massive step forward for business in Northern Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n