US warns Trudeau against unilateral changes to Brexit deal

The United States has warned new British Prime Minister Liz Truss against unilateral changes to the Brexit deal with the European Union. US government spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said yesterday that any attempt to undermine the Northern Ireland deal would negatively affect UK-US trade talks. During her time as Foreign Secretary, Truss pushed legislation designed to overturn the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The British government negotiated the Northern Ireland Protocol as part of its exit from the European Union. It offers special customs rules for Northern Ireland that would keep the sensitive border between the British province and the EU state of Ireland open – and prevent a re-ignition of the Northern Ireland conflict. However, the agreement creates a de facto customs border in the Irish Sea, separating Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. This led, among other things, to delivery problems and great discontent in Great Britain.

Calls with Scholz and Biden

Legislation to amend the Northern Ireland Protocol cleared the first parliamentary hurdle with a vote in the House of Commons at the end of June. In addition to tax changes and the labeling system for products, it also stipulates that the European Court of Justice will no longer be responsible for disputes related to the implementation of Brexit. The European Union strongly criticizes the plan and threatens to go to the European Court of Justice.

In a phone call to German Chancellor Olaf Scholes last night, Truss offered to resolve the dispute over the Northern Ireland protocol. Earlier in the day, US President Joe Biden called for peace in Northern Ireland and for reconciliation with the European Union, in a phone call to Truss.