What happens re: Northern Ireland now?

[DaveGrohlsMuse]

Not right now, as I know nothing changes till next year, but as part of the Withdrawal Agreement?
The Backstop was such a massive sticking point for so long, what was decided in the end? And how will the plan affect the Good Friday Agreement? I've got to a point where I have no idea what's happening so it would be great if someone could explain it to me! (I'm in England,btw)

Northern Ireland is effectively part of the Republic.
The hard border is in the sea.
GFA fine
Arlene VERY annoyed

The border is now in the sea.
And, while we are discussing things Johnson hopes everyone doesn't think about, Gibraltar is no longer an issue between two EU members. The EU will back Spain.

Yep the Gibraltar issue could now result in a no deal.

Gibraltar
Fishing
JIT manufacturing
Service industries

lots of areas where it can still go horribly wrong

Hard border down the sea, with checks on goods going from the Britain to Northern Ireland. Boris still insists there won't be any checks. He's either lying or hasn't actually read the agreement he signed up to. Or both. I'll go with both.

How does border on the Irish Sea prevent goods arriving in NI from outside the EU directly? Are they going to police the coastline?

The Guardian reports today that EU officials confirmed that Gibraltar won't be included in any EU/UK trade deal until there is agreement between the UK and Spain over ownership.

How does border on the Irish Sea prevent goods arriving in NI from outside the EU directly? Are they going to police the coastline?

Anything arriving directly will face the same checks as before brexit.

Scroll on by the stirrer

Anything arriving directly will face the same checks as before brexit

Might need to be more vigilant in future as an open border between a non EU and an EU country is attractive to smugglers.

I'm confused a little also. A border where there shouldn't be a border. No border where there should be a border. *Head explodes

So, something coming into NI from say Calais, will be checked at the ports in NI right? Something coming from the UK to NI, won't need to be checked? Or will it? What if it came via England/Wales to NI from Spain? Something coming from Spain via Republic of Ireland into NI won't be checked?
Has my dumb brain got that much straight?

Apart from the issue of a border between north and south of Ireland, presumably there will now be a border between ports in the Republic and stuff coming from the mainland?

Everything seems to have somehow been resolved, but I, like the OP am not clear on the details either. It somehow got shoved down the agenda in the media.

So, something coming into NI from say Calais, will be checked at the ports in NI right?

No it won't. NI will be treated as if it is in the EU with no internal borders. Checks will be on goods from outside the EU. So something coming from Liverpool to NI will be checked now.

Something coming from the UK to NI, won't need to be checked?

It will as the external EU border is in the Irish sea with NI on one side and Britain on the other. That's why the DUP are furious.

What if it came via England/Wales to NI from Spain?

If it came straight from Spain it wouldn't be checked. If it goes via Britain it will be checked.

Coming from Spain via Republic of Ireland into NI won't be checked?

Correct

I can’t work it out either. What was the checks away from border about?

Might need to be more vigilant in future as an open border between a non EU and an EU country is attractive to smugglers.

The UK has been the weak point for dodgy non EU imports for quite a while now. Just look at all the stuff you can buy on Amazon that comes direct from China. You can't get that stuff in other EU countries as it gets stopped at the border.

Ok, so they're effectively treating NI like a part of the EU then?

Thanks for the concise explanation @Wheresmychocolate. I need things explained in real terms to grasp them.

I can’t work it out either. What was the checks away from border about?

The actual border is the one that separates NI and Ireland. That's the border checks have to be away from. The agreement is that they're on the Britain/NI border instead.

Might need to be more vigilant in future as an open border between a non EU and an EU country is attractive to smugglers

Except it's on an island in the Atlantic ocean some way away from continental Europe. I do think the smuggling thing has been overstated. If it were Heligoland they might have a point.

Just look at all the stuff you can buy on Amazon that comes direct from China. You can't get that stuff in other EU countries as it gets stopped at the border

I don't understand (not goady, genuinely confused). Why do we stop people importing their cosmetics from the US and slap massive customs bills on them, but not parcels from China?

Ok, so they're effectively treating NI like a part of the EU then?

At point of entry, yes. But then it get's really complicated for businesses depending on if the goods are staying in NI or going on into the EU. I can't explain that bit as despite watching very, very closely I still haven't got a feckin clue.

Brexit voters should be more concerned about the Immigration route.

Free movement still applies, but the sea border only applies to goods.

Careful what you wish for.

I meant free movement of people between Uk and ROI under the CTA.

I don't understand (not goady, genuinely confused). Why do we stop people importing their cosmetics from the US and slap massive customs bills on them, but not parcels from China?

No idea either. I'm not in the UK and here I can order stuff from the US, it gets held at customs until I pay the tariff and then I get what I ordered. If I order from China (via someone like Amazon) it gets stopped and isn't allowed in because due to safety issues. I got caught out a couple of times when ordering chargers from Amazon UK, which said they supplied it but in fact it was China.

@SpecLosers - Does the CTA (Common Travel Area) only apply to citizens of either the UK or Ireland though? It's not as if a Spaniard wanting to get to the UK, could go to Ireland, travel up to NI and then enter the UK from NI is it? I honestly thought it was only Irish citizens who could do that. Prepared to be corrected on that point though.

I read a few weeks ago that Amazon UK was scoping out warehouse/distribution facilities in the Republic of Ireland. Amazon refused to comment.

Found the article www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/amazon-seeking-first-warehouse-in-ireland-to-fulfil-orders-shipped-from-uk-1.4120153

What loophole does that open up for them?

Does the CTA (Common Travel Area) only apply to citizens of either the UK or Ireland though? It's not as if a Spaniard wanting to get to the UK, could go to Ireland, travel up to NI and then enter the UK from NI is it? I honestly thought it was only Irish citizens who could do that. Prepared to be corrected on that point though.

You don't need a passport to travel between Ireland and the UK. So yes there is currently nothing to stop a Spaniard entering Britain that way. Doesn't even need to go through NI. Just hop on a ferry from Ireland as a day tripper.