Pelosi Says No UK FTA Vote if Northern Ireland Border Has Customs Checks With Ireland
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that a Brexit that makes a full break with the European customs union will not be rewarded with a U.S. free trade deal. Pelosi, who issued a statement Aug. 14 after National Security Adviser John Bolton said that a free trade agreement with Britain could be done quickly after Brexit, though he said it would have to tackle easier issues first and tackle other sectors later.
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"Whatever form it takes, Brexit cannot be allowed to imperil the Good Friday Agreement, including the seamless border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, especially now, as the first generation born into the hope of Good Friday 21 years ago comes into adulthood. We cannot go back," Pelosi said.
An Irish backstop was part of what Brexit advocates disliked about the deal negotiated with the European Union by former Prime Minister Theresa May. They feared the U.K. would be tied to the EU perpetually because of the need to have the same customs provisions on the island that includes Ireland and Northern Ireland.
“If Brexit undermines the Good Friday accord, there will be no chance of a U.S.-U.K. trade agreement passing the Congress," Pelosi said.