A critical thing now sorted is an agreement on an implementation period following Britain’s exit in March 2019. This will allow Britain to remain a member of the European common market and customs union.
Clarke says that provides certainty and continuity for business while the exact shape of Britain’s relationship with the EU is worked out.
An issue of concern is whether there will be a ‘soft’ or a ‘hard’ border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.
The EU and the British and Irish governments are clear that there cannot be a ‘hard’ border, so they must innovate to resolve this, Clarke told Rural News.
The UK and the EU are committed to making a success of this new arrangement, she said.
“We are not leaving Europe; we are leaving the European Union.
“We are still planning to have the closest possible trade relationship and security partnership with the EU and we are working to that end.”
Clarke says massive trade is done across the ‘invisible’ border and everyone needs to make sure that trade across the UK and all of the EU is as frictionless as possible.
Concerns about the northern/southern Ireland border issue have often been raised by the Irish Government and business and farming groups in the republic.
Ireland’s ambassador to NZ, Breandan O Caollai, acknowledges Britain’s assurance that it will support a ‘soft’ border between northern and southern Ireland. All parties are determined to make that work, he says.
It is in the interests of farmers and agribusiness people in Northern Ireland for a border not to exist. That is how the economy of Ireland -- an island -- has grown for the 20 years since the Good Friday Peace agreement of 1998.
Agriculture has benefitted hugely from the border being permeable -- you can go back and forth. Everyone sees it as a reality that farmers can produce livestock in one region, process it in another and export it to the island of Britain
