RHA continues pressure on Westminster and Stormont for workable GB-NI solutions

Following our recent Westminster Parliamentary roundtable event and Stormont economy committee evidence session, we're continuing to meet with officials and industry bodies regarding GB-NI trade issues across multiple forums. It's vital that decision-makers understand the realities facing businesses each day.

We're focused on building practical relationships between legislators and industry - creating space for real dialogue with the goal of finding workable solutions to some longstanding issues. As we've highlighted before, current systems are flawed and some of the challenges aren't new. The Trader Support Service has let businesses down badly, something a recent House of Lords Report confirmed. Lord Murphy's Windsor Framework review also recognised the complicated bureaucratic process, and constant hurdles facing businesses operating in and trading with Northern Ireland. We were pleased this report also backed our repeated calls for a Trusted Haulier Scheme, and we're grateful for the recent opportunity to discuss this with Lord Murphy directly. The FSB have said it too recently - these obstacles are real, they're impacting businesses and consumer choice, and they need addressing.

We'll keep engaging with officials and will work collaboratively across sectors to find a way forward. Now is the time for some practical answers and a way ahead.

With ICS2 coming in fully on 1 January, there's real concern across the business community that things could get worse rather than better. As EU reset negotiations approach, industry must help shape the long-term solutions facing businesses and the supply-chain.

We're encouraged by recent conversations and determined to make progress. There'll be further discussions and events ahead in the new year aimed at shining a spotlight on these matters and tackling them head-on.

To help us understand how ready businesses are for the next set of changes with ICS2, please take a few minutes to complete our short survey by 5pm on Friday 12 December HERE