The UK’s draft EU withdrawal agreement “may not be perfect” but it is “vastly preferable” to a “no deal” Brexit, according to the chairman of one of the North’s largest business organisations. Brian Irwin, the chair of the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA), said the organisation welcomed the UK agreement because it was a “positive development” in the ongoing Brexit negotiations. Mr Irwin said that no one in the organisation was in any doubt that “a no deal outcome would be disastrous for Northern Ireland, particularly the agri-food sector”. Mr Irwin said: “We simply could not absorb increased customs, tariffs and regulatory costs on trade between Northern Ireland and the EU. “Agri-food is the cornerstone of the Northern Ireland economy and any significant barriers to trade between NI and EU member states, NI and the Republic of Ireland, or NI and Great Britain would have a major impact,” he added.

Source: The Irish Times November 15, 2018 21:00 UTC