PRESS RELEASE:
21/06/2019
- Alternative Arrangements Commission Conference organised by political platform Prosperity UK.
- Neil McDonnell to discuss issues affecting North-South and East-West trade movement with panel.
- Small businesses in agri-food and manufacturing sector most affected with sterling exchange rate challenges.
- ‘The backstop’ – a provision designed only to prevent the emergence of a hard border seems to have become the most controversial element of the UK Withdrawal Agreement.
- ISME looks forward to the discussion of Alternative Arrangements that provide outcomes analogous to those provided for in the backstop.
Neil McDonnell is speaking on the panel addressing ‘A border that works for SMEs’ moderated by Suella Braverman MP.
The conference is being organised by Prosperity UK, which is a political platform that seeks to look constructively at a UK future outside the EU.
Neil McDonnell has been asked to participate in the panel to address issues affecting North-South and East-West trade movement.
He will tell delegates:
- Irish SMEs are relatively more dependent on UK than large companies.
- The businesses worst affected tend to be ‘small’ i.e. 10-49 employees.
- These businesses are mostly involved in the agri-food sector or in manufacture, where profitability is already challenged by sterling exchange rates.
- While ISME understands that ‘the backstop’ has become a significant political issue in the UK, we find it strange that a provision designed only to prevent the emergence of a hard border seems to have become the most controversial element in the conclusion of the withdrawal agreement.
- SMEs are policy takers, not policy makers. They will deal with any obstacles placed in the way of existing trade as best they can.
- If this means that ‘the backstop’ is replaced by ‘a backstop’ that achieves similar guarantees against a hard border, that will work for SMEs.
- ISME looks forward to the discussion of Alternative Arrangements that provide outcomes analogous to those provided for in the backstop.
- Any proposals that materially impact administrative costs, or impede complex agri-food or manufacturing supply chains, will have a severe effect on low-margin businesses in particular.
Quantitative data on ROI-UK trade is compiled by the CSO in its ‘Brexit in numbers’ area and is available here.
ENDS
Notes:
- ISME should be referred to as the Irish SME Association
For further information, please contact ISME offices T: 01 6622755 E: [email protected]
