N Ireland may not ‘benefit’ from new trade deals

Northern Ireland can only benefit from new trade deals provided they don’t prejudice the “Protocol” Johnson agreed with the EU. 

Claim: The deal “ensures that Northern Ireland is part of the UK customs territory and benefits immediately from any UK trade deals”.

Boris Johnson, House of Commons

InFact: Johnson failed to mention a crucial passage of deal which says Northern Ireland can only benefit from trade deals with third countries “provided that those agreements do not prejudice the application of this Protocol.”  Some deals Johnson might cut – such as importing chlorine-washed chicken from America – would contravene EU regulations. So Northern Ireland wouldn’t be able to “benefit” from those. (See Protocol, Article 4).