House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement upon returning to Washington after spending the past week visiting Belgium, Ireland, and the United Kingdom with a trade-focused Congressional delegation:
“Our Congressional delegation returns to Washington having heard from many stakeholders on our shared duty to support Ukraine and its people, the importance of deepening trade relations with some of our closest partners, and the need for the EU and the UK to forge a path forward on the Northern Ireland Protocol. We saw firsthand how the Good Friday Agreement, of which the United States remains a steadfast guarantor, has transformed communities, and fostered peace and prosperity on the island of Ireland.
“Throughout the trip, I sought to listen to the voices of all stakeholders. We heard how important the United States’ role as an honest broker will remain to support ongoing negotiations to find durable solutions to the Protocol.
“This bipartisan delegation forged relationships with each other, and with three of our closest allies, that will endure well beyond our trip. We are more committed than ever to our friendships and trading partnerships with the EU and the UK, and to preserving the peace and stability born out of the historic Good Friday Agreement.
“The European Union and the United Kingdom remain critical economic and strategic partners for the United States. We look forward to continuing to work with the Biden Administration to deepen our special bonds.”
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