Time for London to wake up to the reality of Ireland’s trade border after Brexit
Cantillon: Lack of ‘technical’ solution adds hurdle to EU transition agreement
Brake for the Border: businesses in both the UK and the EU need to know things will not change suddenly after the United Kingdom leaves the bloc, next March. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty
If the UK leaves the EU trading bloc no “technical” solution can avoid the return of a physical trade border, according to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster. It said in a report on Friday: “We have found no evidence that, right now, an invisible border is possible.”
The cross-party committee is echoing pretty much every economic and trade expert. But, coming from inside the House of Commons, it is politically important that this has been said. And the timing is vital, ahead of a vital few days of talks before next week’s European Union summit.