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Brexit: NI ministers to meet David Davis in London Brexit: NI ministers meet David Davis in London
(35 minutes later)
Northern Ireland infrastructure minister Chris Hazzard of Sinn Féin and DUP junior minister Alastair Ross are due to meet the Brexit Secretary David Davis in London. Northern Ireland infrastructure minister Chris Hazzard of Sinn Féin and DUP junior minister Alastair Ross have met with the Brexit Secretary David Davis in London.
They will be joined by ministers from Scotland and Wales. They were joined by ministers from Scotland and Wales.
Discussions are expected to focus on Prime Minister Theresa May's speech on Tuesday. At the meeting, Mr Hazzard said Northern Ireland needed a "special designated status" within the EU.
Mrs May has said Brexit means leaving the European Customs Union.Mrs May has said Brexit means leaving the European Customs Union.
It currently allows tariff and paperwork-free trade between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.It currently allows tariff and paperwork-free trade between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
On Wednesday, former Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) John Bruton said Mrs May's plan for a post-Brexit customs deal will be "unworkable".On Wednesday, former Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) John Bruton said Mrs May's plan for a post-Brexit customs deal will be "unworkable".
Sinn Féin has said exiting the European Customs Union creates a "hard border on the island of Ireland".Sinn Féin has said exiting the European Customs Union creates a "hard border on the island of Ireland".
Martin McGuiness, the former deputy first minister, said: "A border of the future is coming at us."Martin McGuiness, the former deputy first minister, said: "A border of the future is coming at us."
DUP MP Sammy Wilson said the prime minister's statement would give the business community "more certainty".DUP MP Sammy Wilson said the prime minister's statement would give the business community "more certainty".
Mr Bruton said Mrs May was "remarkably unclear about the sort of relationship she wants with the EU Customs Union".Mr Bruton said Mrs May was "remarkably unclear about the sort of relationship she wants with the EU Customs Union".
He said what Mrs May had laid out would run into difficulties with the World Trade OrganisationHe said what Mrs May had laid out would run into difficulties with the World Trade Organisation
Earlier on Wednesday, Brexit Secretary David Davis said the UK leaving the EU would result in difficulties over border controls on the island of Ireland, but that any problems could be solved.Earlier on Wednesday, Brexit Secretary David Davis said the UK leaving the EU would result in difficulties over border controls on the island of Ireland, but that any problems could be solved.
What is a customs union and why does it matter?What is a customs union and why does it matter?
A customs union is a form of trade agreement between two or more countries.A customs union is a form of trade agreement between two or more countries.
It means they decide not to impose tariffs (taxes on imports) on each other's goods and agree to impose common external tariffs on goods from countries outside their customs union.It means they decide not to impose tariffs (taxes on imports) on each other's goods and agree to impose common external tariffs on goods from countries outside their customs union.
Setting common external tariffs is what distinguishes a customs union from a free trade area.Setting common external tariffs is what distinguishes a customs union from a free trade area.
The key argument for leaving the customs union is that it will allow the UK to negotiate its own trade agreements.The key argument for leaving the customs union is that it will allow the UK to negotiate its own trade agreements.
Read more here.Read more here.
On Tuesday, Mrs May said membership of the customs union prevented the UK "from negotiating our own comprehensive trade deals".On Tuesday, Mrs May said membership of the customs union prevented the UK "from negotiating our own comprehensive trade deals".
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Irish government said that while the prime minister's comments may be seen as a warning of a "hard Brexit", Dublin had been preparing for all possible models of future UK-EU relations.In a statement, a spokesperson for the Irish government said that while the prime minister's comments may be seen as a warning of a "hard Brexit", Dublin had been preparing for all possible models of future UK-EU relations.