‘Rash’ UK action on protocol will undermine US trade deal, Schumer warns

Rash unilateral action by the British government on the Northern Ireland protocol that threatens the Belfast Agreement will undermine support among American politicians for a trade deal with the UK, the majority leader of the US senate has said.

Chuck Schumer also maintained that a return to a hard border in Ireland was “not acceptable”

He also criticised unilateral plans by the British government for dealing with “legacy” issues arising from the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He said these measures would “serve to derail truth, reconciliation and justice”.

Mr Schumer was speaking following a meeting in Washington on Wednesday with the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Irish politicians Fergus O’Dowd of Fine Gael and John Finucane of Sinn Féin.

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Mr Schumer said in a statement that the talks had dealt with a number of issues “including the unwelcome and unjustified amnesty legislation and the recently proposed legislation to unilaterally undermine the already negotiated and agreed upon Northern Irish protocol”.

`Truth and justice’

He said the proposed new British measures to deal with legacy issues would “severely undermine both the system of engagement and institutions of justice set forth in the Good Friday [Belfast] Agreement and the Stormont House agreement, which gave victims access to pursue truth and justice”.

“The proposed amnesty legislation is unilateral and unwelcome by virtually all parties, as well as unjustified by the facts and history. I sincerely hope it will not gain support because it would serve to derail truth, reconciliation and justice for so many victims and would hurt, not help, the ongoing intent of the Good Friday Agreement to promote and preserve peace, mutual respect and shared prosperity.”

Mr Schumer urged the UK government “to pursue a path of good-faith negotiation to resolve differences” on the Northern Ireland protocol, “rather than destabilising, unilateral action that would undermine an already-negotiated international agreement”.

“As I have said many times, a return to a hard border is not acceptable, nor is it wise economic policy for the people on the island of Ireland, who have benefited mightily from the changed policies that were birthed after the Good Friday Agreement.

“As majority leader of the United States senate, I join my partner in government, Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi, in saying that rash, unilateral actions that threaten international agreements will undermine support in the Congress for any bilateral trade proposal. Again, I urge a path of engagement and negotiation to mete out differences in a way that preserves the peace, stability and shared progress fostered by the Good Friday Agreement.”

The president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Daniel O’Connell, said it was clear following the meeting with Mr Schumer that “the UK government needs to consider long and hard about proceeding with the legacy legislation”.

“It risks destroying the Good Friday Agreement with this proposal that is flawed and deeply divisive.”