By Business & Finance 
Chamber calls on both sides to look towards innovative solutions. Director-General John McGrane: “It would be a great failure for diplomacy if this critical deal falls at the last hurdle.”
The British Irish Chamber of Commerce has today expressed its grave concern over the current impasse in trade negotiations between the EU and UK. This follows the lack of progress achieved in talks over recent days.
In order to sustain the over 400,000 jobs dependent on trade between the UK and Ireland, the Chamber has called on both parties to seek innovative solutions through the inclusion of scheduled reviews within the trade agreement, grace periods for certain elements of a deal and a joint forum to ensure high standards are maintained by both European and British businesses.
Director-General John McGrane: “It would be a great failure for diplomacy if this critical deal falls at the last hurdle.”
John McGrane, Director-General of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce said: “The Chamber knows that neither the UK nor the EU want their citizens to suffer lower standards for their safety, their food, their workers or their environment. A no-deal outcome puts all of these at risk.
“Negotiators should now agree to maintain current high standards and a practical joint forum to continuously safeguard our shared common interests. If either side disagrees on future new measures, they can trigger an exit at reasonable notice to employers and citizens then.
“The Chamber would urge EU and UK negotiators to take inspiration from the successful resolution of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Measures such as scheduled reviews and grace periods for implementation can help to resolve the current impasse.
“With 97% or 98% of a deal reported to be in place, it would be a great failure for diplomacy if this critical deal falls at the last hurdle.”
