By Omayma
othmani
Published:
August 27, 2022
The British newspaper "The Independent" revealed that Liz Truss, the British Foreign Secretary and the frontrunner to lead the Conservative Party and become Prime Minister of Britain, may activate Article 16 to unilaterally retract the protocol regulating trade movement through Northern Ireland between the United Kingdom and the European Union, which warns of the outbreak of a trade war in the European continent.
The newspaper clarified that Liz Truss may activate Article 16 within days of assuming the premiership as the deadline to do so is September 15 - 10 days after the announcement of the next Prime Minister.
It is understood that the Foreign Secretary and frontrunner to lead the Conservative Party has received new advice from trade and legal experts on the application of the emergency clause in the post-Brexit deal.
The newspaper explained that Truss has always threatened to retract the agreement, but there is renewed interest as the deadline for the UK to respond to legal actions launched by the EU against it for failing to implement proper inspections at the Irish Sea border approaches.
With a long parliamentary battle expected over the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, a major ally of Truss in the Financial Times described the activation of Article 16 as a "temporary alternative" until the legislation is passed, although the source said Truss prefers a negotiated solution with Brussels, activating Article 16 remains an option as long as talks remain at an impasse.
Truss's hatred for the protocol has grown in recent days, following complaints from British steel producers that they will have to pay a 25% tariff to sell some construction products in Northern Ireland.
The newspaper also pointed out that activating Article 16 would allow either side to take unilateral action if they believe the protocol causes "serious economic, social or environmental difficulties that may persist," or harms trade.
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