Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Luke Evans and Hilary Benn

Wednesday 21st May 2025 Commons Chamber

[Dr Luke Evans (Hinckley and Bosworth) (Con)]

7. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the US-UK economic prosperity deal on Northern Ireland.

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Hilary Benn)]

The trade deal with the USA, together with the agreements with the EU and India, are very significant. Northern Ireland exporters, including those exporting services, technology and farming goods, will benefit in the same way as those in other parts of the UK. In particular, the US deal is a major opportunity for Northern Ireland farmers to sell their high-quality beef to a US market of over 300 million people.

[Dr Evans]

I am grateful to the Secretary of State for his answer, but there seem to be wildly different interpretations of what the deal means for Northern Ireland. Will he clarify what it means for imports and exports in the light of the impact of EU tariffs? Was that explicitly discussed at the EU-UK summit?

[Hilary Benn]

The hon. Gentleman is right to point out that EU retaliatory tariffs directed at the USA would have an impact in Northern Ireland, because of its dual-market access. I can write to him with further details of how precisely that would work. It depends partly on whether there is less or more than a 3% difference between the tariff in the EU and the tariff that applies in the UK.