US Tariffs on EU Goods

Lord Carlile of Berriew Excerpts

Tuesday 18th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[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.

[Lord Carlile of Berriew (CB)]

My Lords, bearing in mind that the issues raised by the noble Baroness are seen by Northern Ireland business as raising huge complexities, will the Minister consider the practical step of issuing a weekly bulletin in Northern Ireland so that tariffs and other regulations appear to business- people to be less like an anarchic board game?

[Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab)]

Comprehensive guidance is available on GOV.UK and businesses can contact HMRC for more information about the reimbursement schemes. I will take back the noble Lord’s general comment about how we can improve those communications.