Trade tensions between the European Union and the UK are escalating.

The land border between Ireland and Northern Ireland is open. Delivery to the ports of Northern Ireland should be monitored to ensure that agricultural and food items do not enter the EU unrestrictedly from third countries via Great Britain.

Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Bootz now wants to get rid of these restrictions altogether. Several simplifications have already been agreed between Brussels and London. However, the EU sees the complete deregulation as a clear violation of existing trade agreements and Irish protocol.

In the event of further increases, the Agreement with the United Kingdom may be terminated, subject to higher tariffs.

GB wants to resolve the conflict

Attempts are being made to resolve the conflict on the British side. There, Agriculture Minister Bootz’s announcement is relegated to an electoral strategy. According to British media reports, Boots is a member of the Democratic Unionist Party and wants to portray himself as particularly aggressive towards the Republic of Ireland in the May elections.

Moreover, the Minister of Agriculture’s initiative did not even fit into the ruling coalition in Belfast. Contrary to the announcement, the first reports were that the inspections continued on Thursday.