Post brexit trade deals

Loyalist paramilitary organizations in Northern Ireland were on Thursday reported to have told London they are temporarily withdrawing support for the 1998 peace agreement, often called the Good Friday Agreement. The decision was taken amid concerns over the UK's Brexit deal with the European Union, Northern Irish newspaper the Belfast Telegraph reported . A letter from an umbrella body representing loyalist groups said its opposition was because of the Northern Irish Protocol — part of the Brexit divorce deal. They oppose the additional checks and paperwork for goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland — implemented to prevent the need for a hard border on the island of Ireland. What did the letter say? The communication — sent to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson — said the opposition should remain "peaceful and democratic." However, it will raise fears about the future of the loyalist ceasefire. The letter, from the Loyalist Communities Council, claimed … [Read more...] about Northern Ireland loyalists pull support for Good Friday peace deal

Loyalist paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland have withdrawn their support for the Good Friday Agreement in protest at post-Brexit border arrangements. In a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) said they no longer backed the 1998 peace deal due to the impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol. They called for the Protocol, a key part of the UK's divorce deal with the EU aimed at avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, to be amended following weeks of issues with trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Trade tensions increasing in Northern Ireland "I have been instructed to advise you that the Loyalist Groupings are herewith withdrawing their support for the Belfast Agreement and its Institutions until our rights under the Agreement are restored and the Protocol is amended to ensure unfettered access for goods. services, and citizens … [Read more...] about Brexit: Loyalist groups withdraw support for Good Friday Agreement over Northern Ireland Protocol

The Scotch whisky industry has welcomed a deal between the UK and US governments that has seen damaging tariffs, imposed by the Trump administration in 2019, suspended for four months. The 25% tariff fell under a range of European products targeted as part of a historical row over government subsidies given to European aerospace firm Airbus and to US plane-maker Boeing. Just last month, the Scotch whisky sector said the penalty applied to single malt, in a dispute not of its making, had accounted for more than £500m of export losses . The suspension of the US tariffs, which also cover some other UK-made products including cheese, allows time for a permanent agreement to be reached following the UK's unilateral decision at the end of the Brexit transition period to lift retaliatory tariffs imposed by the EU on some US goods. A joint statement said: "The United Kingdom and the United States are undertaking a four-month tariff suspension to ease the burden on … [Read more...] about Scotch whisky industry toasts Biden as US suspends trade tariffs

A woman was "disgusted and embarrassed" to find out a boyfriend she once thought was Prince Charming had posted revenge porn of her online. Kenny Davis quickly changed after moving in with Laura Alcock, who he had wooed when they first met. The 34-year-old began controlling her life, banishing her friends and once pushing her to the floor in public, Nottingham Post reported. When the 35-year-old mum plucked up the courage to end the relationship, she discovered he had taken the intimate photographs of her while she slept and posted them to his Instagram account. Laura said: “I was horrified, they were so seedy.” She added: “He seems to have a vendetta against women and I just want to get it out there to raise awareness that help is there for anyone going through what I did. “He was very much a manipulator, controlling everything I did. “He did assault me but what he did to me was more mental abuse than physical abuse.” Mum-of-six Laura, of Ilkeston, said she met … [Read more...] about Woman, 35, ‘disgusted and embarrassed’ after ex posted revenge porn on Instagram

G erman exports to the UK plunged by almost a third in the first month under post-Brexit trading arrangements, new figures have revealed. The end of the Brexit transition period was blamed by Germany’s official statistics body for a 30pc year-on-year plunge in exports to the UK in January but economists predicted the trade slump will ease. New customs rules for exporters exacerbated a tumble in trade already triggered by the Covid crisis amid complaints of post-Brexit arrangements causing higher costs and delays for businesses. January’s drop compares to a 15.5pc fall in imports from Germany over 2020 but the latest slump in trade was still not as severe as the worst months of the first lockdown. The tumble in German imports at the start of the UK’s life outside the EU was also worsened by many businesses stockpiling in December as Brexit talks went down to the wire. “We expected very weak eurozone exports to the UK for January, in part due to teething problems at the … [Read more...] about German exports to UK fell 30pc in January