Elizabeth Piper and William James

LONDON, (Reuters) – Britain will not hesitate to act if the European Union does not show more flexibility when discussing trade rules for Northern Ireland. This was the latest escalation in a post-Brexit dispute.

Maros Sefcovic, European Commission Director, was the latest threat in a continuous drumbeat that threatens to end in London passing legislation that would disapply so-called protocol, which governs trade within British Provinces.

London faced the most difficult task of exiting the EU by negotiating a peace deal in Northern Ireland that kept the EU single market intact and preserved Northern Ireland’s stability.

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of Britain, agreed to a protocol that created an international customs boundary in the waters between Northern Ireland (and the UK), but now it says the associated bureaucracy are unacceptable.

Since months, the Conservative government has threatened to end the protocol. This raises the possibility of trade war with Europe in a time when inflation is at its highest. It also prompts concern throughout Europe and Washington.

Truss argued again with Sefcovic (Vice President European Commission), that the lack of an agreement on Northern Ireland protocol was endangering a 1998 Peace Deal, which effectively ended decades of sectarian violence among nationalists supporting unification with Ireland as well as pro-British unionists.

According to a British statement, “The Foreign Secretary…” stated that the Northern Ireland situation is an issue of inner peace and security for Britain. If the EU does not have the flexibility necessary to solve these issues then we, as responsible governments, would be forced to take action.”

“Vice President Sefcovic stated that the EU’s negotiating mandate was not extended and no new proposals were made to lower trade friction.

Truss acknowledged this regret, the statement stated.

COORDINATED APPROACH

As if in a concerted approach, Michael Ellis (Britain’s Minister for Cabinet Office) is likely to address the European Parlament later Thursday.

Two opposing views on what was agreed to in 2020 under Britain’s Brexit withdrawal deal with the EU are at the core of this dispute.

Brussels insists that the agreement has been signed in good will and no renegotiation of it is possible. London claims that the agreement was signed in good faith. However, there had been an understanding that changes could be necessary if trade issues were to arise for Northern Ireland.

Simon Coveney, the Irish foreign minister, stated Wednesday that the EU will launch legal action against London and may impose countermeasures. The news was “going down really badly” in the EU, he said.

Sources close to the Conservative Party said that the decision to declare domestic legislation, which effectively would suspend protocol, could be announced on Tuesday. This announcement may have been made after an announcement possibly made by the prime Minister a day before.

Downing Street refused repeatedly to give details of the actions that the government will take in order to resolve the deadlock.

Any such attempt to disapply the protocol by legislating could be slow and require approval from both the upper and lower houses of parliament.