US Tariffs on EU Goods

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick Excerpts

Tuesday 18th March 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications of tariffs imposed by the United States of America on EU goods for trade in Northern Ireland, having regard to the Windsor Framework.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business and Trade and Department for Science, Information and Technology (Baroness Jones of Whitchurch) (Lab)]

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for raising this issue. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom customs territory and internal market. Northern Ireland exporters will not be impacted by these new US tariffs any more than exporters from elsewhere in the UK. We are looking closely at the retaliatory tariffs announced by the EU and any impact that they might have on Northern Ireland businesses. Under the Windsor agreement, where US imports into Northern Ireland do not subsequently enter the EU, traders can reclaim any additional duties through the duty reimbursement scheme.

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for her response. Bearing in mind that the Windsor Framework is a device to protect delicate trading relationships in Northern Ireland in the post-Brexit era, can she outline what work is being done with regard to potential tariffs imposed on EU goods by the USA, which could impact on Northern Ireland? What will be the impact on the most vulnerable products and markets? What discussions have taken place with the EU and the American Administration regarding mitigations to protect businesses?

[Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab)]

I would like to reassure my noble friend that we will always act in the best interests of all UK businesses, which of course includes those in Northern Ireland. We continue to look closely at the details of the retaliatory tariffs announced by the EU and any impact they might have on businesses. We are in regular contact with our partners in the US and the EU, as well as businesses in the UK. An important mitigation is already in place under the Windsor agreement. Where goods do not subsequently enter the EU, the duty reimbursement scheme enables traders to reclaim EU applicable duties in full without any limit on total claims. The customs duty waiver scheme also allows duties to be waived entirely, subject to an overall limit.