The Ulster Unionist Party has called on the UK Government and European Union to stop implementing the Windsor Framework until outstanding issues are resolved. The demand follows the postponement of an EU-UK summit that had been planned for July.

Steve Aiken, the party’s Windsor Framework spokesperson and an MLA, said Northern Ireland continues to be damaged by the ongoing negotiations. He urged both sides to show good faith and suspend any further measures that affect businesses, consumers and Northern Ireland’s position within the United Kingdom.

The summit, where significant problems with the Framework were expected to be addressed, has been delayed. Mr Aiken attributed the postponement to political uncertainty in London over who will be prime minister later this year.

Mr Aiken pointed to several measures that are already causing difficulties. Border inspection posts in Larne and Belfast have been completed, he said, and UK authorities are pressing ahead with additional sanitary and phytosanitary checks and maritime emissions levies that increase costs for the shipping sector.

A new charge on parcels, up to €8 on online orders from Great Britain and outside the EU, is due to take effect at the start of next month. Various grace periods are also expiring, leading to more checks and higher costs.

Mr Aiken said that the lack of agreement means that divergence and the expense of doing business across the Irish Sea border grow each day. He cautioned that damage to trade within the UK could become permanent if implementation is not paused.

The Ulster Unionist MLA noted that a decade after the Brexit referendum, businesses and consumers in Northern Ireland are still facing new barriers to trade within their own country. He called for solutions rather than further delays and increasing costs.