Pelosi opposes US-Britain trade deal if it harms peace in Ireland

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday saidshe would oppose a post-Brexit trade deal between the US and Britainif it damages an agreement signed two decades ago between theRepublic of Ireland and Northern Ireland."If Brexit undermines the Good Friday accord, there will be no chanceof a US-UK trade agreement passing the Congress," Pelosi said in astatement, referring to the agreement reached on Good Friday in 1998."Whatever form it takes, Brexit cannot be allowed to imperil the GoodFriday Agreement." The top House Democrat's remarks come after National Security AdviserJohn Bolton said that the United States would support a "no deal"Brexit, which would likely result in a hard border with customscheckpoints on the island of Ireland. There are concerns that imposing physical checks between NorthernIreland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and the Republic ofIreland, which is an EU member, could restart the violence thatplagued Northern Ireland for decades starting in the 1960s. "The Good Friday Agreement serves as the bedrock of peace in NorthernIreland and as a beacon of hope for the entire world," Pelosi said."After centuries of conflict and bloodshed, the world has witnessed amiracle of reconciliation and progress made possible because of thistransformative accord."Bolton said Monday in London that the US would enthusiasticallysupport a no-deal Brexit if that is what the British governmentdecided to do. Britain is set to leave the EU on October 31 with orwithout an exit deal.But any new post-Brexit trade deal would be subject to approval byCongress, which would give Pelosi a chance to block it as theDemocrats control the lower chamber.