Guidance for businesses on NI's post-Brexit trade deal 'not fit for purpose'

The Windsor Framework aimed to reduce checks and red tape on goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain

The government's guidance for businesses on Northern Ireland's post-Brexit trade deal is "not fit for purpose", an independent report has found.

The Windsor Framework Independent Monitoring Panel said information was "poorly presented, unwieldy and needs to be significantly improved".

It is the first paper published by the panel, which was set up to examine the framework agreement between the UK and European Union.

The panel was part of a deal between the government and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) aimed at tackling concerns over trade barriers with Great Britain.

The command paper, known as Safeguarding the Union, led to a restoration of Northern Ireland's devolved government in 2024 after a two-year hiatus.

The DUP had been boycotting the power-sharing institutions in protest over Brexit trade arrangements under the Northern Ireland Protocol and later the Windsor Framework.

The Windsor Framework aimed to reduce checks and red tape on goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

It involved creating two "lanes" for goods - a green lane (called the "internal market system") for goods remaining in Northern Ireland, and a red lane for goods moving into the Republic of Ireland.

TUV leader Jim Allister accused the government of "deception" over the extent of trade barriers.

In its report, the Windsor Framework Independent Monitoring Panel examined the movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

It said that "96% of the value of goods moved under freight did so within the internal market system" in the six months from January to June.

The panel said the government's pledge of 80% "has therefore been met for this period".

But it said the government needed to ensure support provided for businesses was "presented in a manner that is accessible and easy to navigate".

It said that online guidance was "not fit for purpose", adding: "It is poorly presented, unwieldy and needs to be significantly improved to ensure that businesses can easily access the information that they need."

The panel added there was "mismatch" between the general public view that the Windsor Framework would create "frictionless" trade "and the reality of the provisions".

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister accused the government of "deception" over the extent of trade barriers.

The North Antrim MP said that "traders and consumers know the reality to be very different" and the government was "taking us for fools".

In a written statement to parliament, Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn welcomed the panel's report.

"I have informed the panel that the government is grateful for those recommendations, which will now be considered as part of our response to the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework," he added.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson has welcomed the report

DUP leader Gavin Robinson welcomed the report, saying it showed the majority of goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland were "not subject to EU custom duties".

But he said businesses "continue to have serious and practical concerns with the present arrangements".

He added the secretary of state "cannot continue to tinker around the edges in the hope that this problem will simply go away".

On Wednesday, the Secretary of State Hilary Benn visited a manufacturing firm Camlin Group.

He said Northern Ireland has a "unique advantage" of "dual-market access" to the UK and EU as a result of the Windsor Framework.

Peter Cunningham, chief executive of Camlin Group, described dual-market access as a "powerful accelerator" for businesses.

He said it was "part of helping us on our journey of expansion".

Trade via Dublin 'easier'

Meanwhile, hauliers have told a Stormont committee it is "easier" to move goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland by travelling through the Republic of Ireland.

Martin Reid from the Road Haulage Association described the levels of cost and bureaucracy for the Northern Ireland supply chain under the Windsor Framework as "quite horrendous".

Alistair Hobson from Montgomery Transport Group said it was "easier" when goods were coming from Wales to Dublin, and then coming north because "you know what you're doing".

"The barriers are there but it's a one-stop-shop solution," he added, saying that travelling via Dublin involved just one customs entry.

"Whereas we're essentially doing almost 17 different types of customs entry to move goods into Northern Ireland," Mr Hobson said.

DUP assembly member Gary Middleton described the situation as "absolutely ridiculous".

"I think that's absolutely shameful for any UK government to be over that," he added.