EU threat to hit Brexit MPS and ministers with tariffs
Products from certain constituencies could be targeted in trade war if UK moves to junk NI protocol
THE European Union is considering a targeted trade war on troublesome Brexiteer MPS and Tory ministers, in response to Boris Johnson’s plan to override the Northern Ireland Protocol.
A senior diplomatic source said Brussels has held talks over potential reprisals, including a plan to turn the Prime Minister’s political allies against him, if he follows through with his threat to rip up the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.
Under the plan British products made in Red Wall constituencies, as well as those with elected Cabinet ministers and vocal Brexiteers, face crippling trade tariffs, to generate enough pressure to force Mr Johnson into a U-turn.
A senior EU diplomat said: “It is a longstanding practice of the Commission to target its trade defence policy to avoid contingent effects and to support political objectives.”
Nissan cars, Cadbury chocolate, Heinz Ketchup, JCB tractors and Jaguar Land Rover vehicles could all be hit with duty hikes as part of retaliatory measures by Brussels. The same tactic was used by the bloc in a tit-for-tat trade row with former US President Donald Trump, during which Brussels targeted Levi’s jeans, Harley-davidson motorbikes and bourbon whisky.
EU officials targeted products manufactured in key Republican states. Orange juice from Florida, a critical swing state in elections, was also hit.
“It was part of the conversation with the US and has been on the table multiple times over the past couple of years whenever the UK threatened to blow up the Brexit deal,” the diplomat added.
A source suggested businesses in the Red Wall constituencies gained by the Tories could be the first to see their exports hit with tariffs because Mr Johnson is seen as keen to maintain his backing in the area. The EU has vowed to respond swiftly by renewing legal action against the UK and even ripping up the trade agreement if Britain moves to override the protocol.
Britain insists its plans to revoke part of the Brexit deal are being drawn up to protect the Good Friday peace agreement, which the Government argues is being “undermined” by the Protocol.
Sources say Brussels will likely publish its own response when the legislation is made public by the Government at the start of next month. One EU diplomat said the bloc would likely respond with full force because its patience has run out with the Prime Minister’s repeated threats to junk the protocol.
“Johnson has distracted voters for another month from the cost of living crisis, economic troubles, his stalled migration approach and partygate,” they said. “Every time Johnson needs to play to the gallery he puts Brexit back on the agenda... Why should we be the ones to light it for him as well?”
‘It was part of conversation with the US and has been on the table multiple times over the past couple of years’
Stephen Kelly, the chief executive of Manufacturing NI, said the EU’S threat to start a trade war with the UK would break its promises to the province.
Brussels has told business chiefs its retaliation “will be focused on the ports in GB” but that would still have a huge knock-on effect for Ulster.
“The EU have consistently said to us if there is a dispute that turns into something more conflict-like, Northern Ireland will be protected from that.
“That wasn’t quite reflected in some of their language that they used in the last few days, which is a concern.”
Talks are expected to resume between Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary and Maros Sefcovic, her EU counterpart, next week. Both sides believe a deal can eliminate most trade checks between GB and NI. But they are unsure whether negotiations will be successful because of the recent acrimony.