THE Freight Transport Association (FTA) is calling on its members to continue preparing for a no-deal Brexit, even after the UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson proposed that when the country leaves the European Union (EU), Northern Ireland would remain in the single market for goods, but leave the customs union.
How the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is managed has been one of the major obstacles in the talks so far.
The European Commission said the proposal has 'problematic points', although it is willing to enter discussions.
FTA deputy chief executive James Hookham was quoted as saying in a report by London's Air Cargo News: 'With no certainty that these new proposals will lead to a deal, we continue to urge our members to prepare as fully as possible, given the time available, for a No Deal exit from the EU.
'With only three weeks to go, a number of important questions and clarifications on our No Deal readiness dashboard remain unanswered, and we urge government to resolve and mitigate the significant risks to trade still posed by a No Deal exit from the EU on October 31.
'While a deal is preferable to the potential disruption which a No Deal Brexit would bring, FTA will continue to advise government on how the logistics industry can 'Keep Britain Trading', whatever the potential solution.
'FTA has offered to help the government develop and implement an effective solution for trade on the island of Ireland and, while this offer has yet to be taken up, our door remains open.'
WORLD SHIPPING
How the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is managed has been one of the major obstacles in the talks so far.
The European Commission said the proposal has 'problematic points', although it is willing to enter discussions.
FTA deputy chief executive James Hookham was quoted as saying in a report by London's Air Cargo News: 'With no certainty that these new proposals will lead to a deal, we continue to urge our members to prepare as fully as possible, given the time available, for a No Deal exit from the EU.
'With only three weeks to go, a number of important questions and clarifications on our No Deal readiness dashboard remain unanswered, and we urge government to resolve and mitigate the significant risks to trade still posed by a No Deal exit from the EU on October 31.
'While a deal is preferable to the potential disruption which a No Deal Brexit would bring, FTA will continue to advise government on how the logistics industry can 'Keep Britain Trading', whatever the potential solution.
'FTA has offered to help the government develop and implement an effective solution for trade on the island of Ireland and, while this offer has yet to be taken up, our door remains open.'
WORLD SHIPPING