The Ulster Unionist Party has raised serious concerns about the EU’s accelerated customs reforms and their impact on Northern Ireland consumers and businesses. Windsor Framework spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA, warned that new EU measures will add costs to millions of parcels entering Northern Ireland and risk deepening trade divergence.

Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA said:

“The European Union’s latest customs proposals represent a significant and concerning development for Northern Ireland’s consumers and businesses.

“The EU has advanced its implementation of new customs duties and charges by two years, now set for 1 July 2026, rather than March 2028. This includes a €3 customs levy on all small parcel imports valued under €150, alongside an additional €2 handling fee to fund the new EU Customs Authority. In practice, this means every non-EU parcel entering Northern Ireland could face a minimum €5 charge, costs that will inevitably fall on consumers and businesses here.

“These measures are part of a broader EU customs reform package, which will ultimately remove the current €150 duty relief threshold altogether. At that point, all goods regardless of value will be subject to full EU tariffs. This is not a temporary measure; it is a permanent shift in EU policy.

“The implications for Northern Ireland are stark. Millions of parcels cross into NI each year under the €150 threshold. These new charges will generate significant revenue for the EU not for our Executive while adding cost and complexity for households and retailers. Worse still, there is no clarity from HM Government or HMRC on how these rules will apply under the Windsor Framework, whether goods will be routed via ‘green’ or ‘red’ lanes, or who ultimately bears the cost, suppliers, distributors, or consumers.

“The UK Government has indicated that similar low value import relief will be removed from March 2029, but the EU’s accelerated timeline leaves Northern Ireland exposed. Despite assurances, the so called ‘Stormont Brake’ offers little comfort given the Secretary of State’s stated approach to ‘faithful implementation’ and EU compliance.

“With less than six months until these changes take effect, Northern Ireland faces uncertainty, higher costs, and a lack of safeguards. No political party who cares about our consumers, retailers, and distributors can ignore the impact. We must act now to protect Northern Ireland from these disproportionate and damaging measures.”