Tariffs: Canada and Mexico

Baroness Hoey Excerpts

Tuesday 4th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab)]

My Lords, as I said, we are committed to working with both the US and the EU to remove barriers to trade and to help UK businesses grow. The noble Lord is quite right to draw attention to the fact that the US is one of our largest trading partners, with trade worth around £300 billion in September 2024, representing 18% of total UK trade. We have a long and deep relationship with the US, and we will obviously want to enhance that as the trade discussions continue.

[Baroness Hoey (Non-Afl)]

If President Trump imposes tariffs on the European Union and not, we hope, on the United Kingdom, what plans do His Majesty’s Government have to protect the part of the United Kingdom—Northern Ireland—that has been left in the EU for some hundreds of trading areas? How will we be affected and what will His Majesty’s Government do to protect the citizens of Northern Ireland?

[Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab)]

My Lords, we will always consider businesses across the country and their particular interests. However, it is difficult to comment on specific tariffs when there are few facts and speculation is taking place. Northern Ireland is part of the UK customs territory and internal market, and goods moving into Northern Ireland do not subsequently enter the EU. We are considering what action would be in the best interests of all UK businesses and will make sure that the implications for Northern Ireland are considered in those discussions.