Editing Belfast (section)

=== EU/GB Trade ===
[[Invest Northern Ireland|Invest NI]], Northern Ireland's economic development agency is pitching Belfast and its hinterland to foreign investors as "only region in the world able to trade goods freely with both [[Great Britain|GB]] and EU markets".<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 June 2023 |title=Northern Ireland's Unique GB and EU Market Access Position |url=https://www.investni.com/international-business/northern-irelands-unique-gb-and-eu-market-access-position |access-date=25 January 2024 |website=Invest Northern Ireland |archive-date=25 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125012330/https://www.investni.com/international-business/northern-irelands-unique-gb-and-eu-market-access-position |url-status=live }}</ref> This follows the 2020 [[Northern Ireland Protocol]] and the 2023 [[Windsor Framework]], agreements between the British government and [[European Union]], whereby, post-Brexit, Northern Ireland would effectively remain within the [[European single market|European Single Market]] for goods while, in principle, retaining unfettered access to the British domestic market. Despite the DUP's derailment of devolved government in protest, local business leaders largely welcomed the new trade regime, hailing the promise of dual EU-GB access as a critical opportunity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 March 2023 |title=Business leaders' Windsor Framework letter to Rishi Sunak is 'welcome intervention' |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2023/03/12/news/business_leaders_windsor_framework_letter_to_rishi_sunak_is_welcome_intervention_-3127023/ |access-date=25 January 2024 |website=The Irish News |archive-date=25 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125012328/https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2023/03/12/news/business_leaders_windsor_framework_letter_to_rishi_sunak_is_welcome_intervention_-3127023/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=31 March 2023 |title='The Windsor Framework gives business the chance to renew the NI economy and doesn't threaten union' |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/ulsterbusiness/features/the-windsor-framework-gives-business-the-chance-to-renew-the-ni-economy-and-doesnt-threaten-union/1002543936.html |access-date=25 January 2024 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=25 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125012328/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/ulsterbusiness/features/the-windsor-framework-gives-business-the-chance-to-renew-the-ni-economy-and-doesnt-threaten-union/1002543936.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2024, the DUP consented to a return of the devolved Assembly and Executive on the understanding that neither the EU nor the British government would defend the integrity of their respective internal markets by conducting ''routine'' checks on the bulk of goods passing through Belfast, or other Northern Ireland, ports.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2024 |title=Government deal with the DUP to restore power sharing in Northern Ireland |url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/government-deal-dup-restore-power-sharing-northern-ireland |access-date=3 February 2024 |website=Institute for Government |archive-date=3 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203024240/https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/government-deal-dup-restore-power-sharing-northern-ireland |url-status=live }}</ref>