Biden welcomes post-Brexit Northern Ireland deal between Britain and EU

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday the new deal between British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the European Union on post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland is an "essential step" to ensuring peace from the Good Friday Agreement is preserved.

"I appreciate the efforts of the leaders and officials on all sides who worked tirelessly to find a way forward that protects Northern Ireland’s place within the UK’s internal market as well as the EU’s single market, to the benefit of all communities in Northern Ireland," Biden said in a statement.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Costas Pitas; Editing by Chris Reese)