The most obvious impact is on trade relations between the UK and Northern Ireland . British companies now have to appoint a “responsible person” based in the EU or Northern Ireland, which is cumbersome and increases the cost of doing business. This requirement is surprising to many small businesses, including those that only trade in the UK market. Industry data suggests that, despite the UK government’s optimistic assessment, “most UK companies that sell in Northern Ireland are likely to have adequate arrangements in place.”
Even profitable medium-sized companies with an annual thailand telephone number turnover of up to £20 million have already withdrawn from the EU market due to regulatory costs.
The new GPSR criteria are likely to lead to similar trade restrictions for Northern Ireland. The business community has expressed significant concerns through mainstream and social media. Many businesses said they had not been adequately informed about these changes. The situation is particularly difficult for small and micro businesses, which are mainly focused on sales within the UK domestic market.
Trade challenges after Brexit
The immediate impact of these rules appears to be a potential decline in trade with Northern Ireland, as many smaller UK companies may decide to cease operations in the region rather than comply with the new criteria. These changes could lead to a fragmentation of the UK internal market, which could limit the availability of goods to Northern Irish consumers. Solutions are starting to emerge for companies trying to continue operating in Northern Ireland. While the true utility of such solutions is not yet known, Webinterpret recently revealed a compliance tool to help companies negotiate new GPSR obligations. This scenario highlights the ongoing challenges of post- Brexit trade agreements and their implications for the coherence of the UK internal market, given Northern Ireland’s unique position under the Windsor Framework Agreement.