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Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, said that the American Congress would never pass an economic agreement that it felt could “imperil” the Northern Ireland peace accord. Mr Johnson this week caught the EU by surprise by unveiling plans to override key elements of the Brexit deal with the EU regarding Northern Ireland.
But the proposals have sparked controversy with ministers admitting the proposed Internal Market Bill will breach international law.
Express.co.uk is asking you should Mr Johnson back down over his plans to override the Brexit deal with Brussels to protect a UK/US trade deal?
In a strongly worded statement, Ms Pelosi bluntly warned the Prime Minister his Brexit plans could not “imperil” the international treaty.
She said: “The Good Friday Agreement is the bedrock of peace in Northern Ireland and an inspiration for the whole world.
“Whatever form it takes, Brexit cannot be allowed to imperil the Good Friday Agreement, including the stability brought by the invisible and frictionless border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.
“The UK must respect the Northern Ireland Protocol as it was signed with the EU to ensure the free flow of goods across the border.
“If the UK violates that international treaty and Brexit undermines the Good Friday accord, there will be absolutely no chance of a US-UK trade agreement passing the Congress.
“The Good Friday Agreement is treasured by the American people and will be proudly defended in the United States Congress.”
Her comments come as a blow to Britain who hopes to forge trade deals with the US and China after its official departure from the bloc.
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The Good Friday Agreement – which ended a political conflict in Northern Ireland – lies at the heart of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, which if undercut, would spark tensions at the Irish border.
Ministers argue the new proposed legislation is necessary to protect the Northern Ireland peace process if London and Brussels are unable to agree to a free trade deal before the current Brexit transition period runs out at the end of the year.
Mr Johnson discussed the proposed legislation with Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin on Wednesday by telephone.
It comes as European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic said he will listen to what Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove has to say during an “extraordinary meeting” on Thursday, before deciding whether Britain can still be trusted.
The hastily arranged meeting of the UK-EU joint committee in London was arranged after the Government tabled legislation to alter key elements of the Withdrawal Agreement that Mr Johnson signed with Brussels.
The Government infuriated Brussels just as trade deal negotiations reached a crunch week, when ministers admitted they could break international law over the deal.
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