Kylie MacLellan, Elizabeth Piper

LONDON, (Reuters) – Britain has taken steps to resolve the standoff with the European Union regarding trade with Northern Ireland. On Tuesday it crafted a new law which would override certain parts of a Brexit deal. This will further aggravate relations with Brussels.

Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, stated in a statement that planned legislation will ease trade, use Britain’s tax system in Northern Ireland, and give London greater control over laws.

As she repeatedly stated to lawmakers, the bill would not violate international law. London will continue to press for negotiations with Brussels in order to reach a solution.

However, despite EU warnings about unilateral actions, the new law will change some parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which was agreed to with the bloc in the framework of Britain’s exit from the EU.

Maros Sefcovic (Vice President of European Commission) stated that such an action is “unacceptable” and that Brussels would take all necessary measures to counter it. Boris Johnson, British prime minister, said that he believes a trade conflict is unlikely.

Johnson signed the protocol in 2019, to enable Britain’s exit from the EU’s single marketplace and customs Union without reimposing controls on Northern Ireland’s border. The agreement was crucial to the 1998 Good Friday ceasefire, which ended over three decades worth of violence.

In striking this deal, he agreed to establish a border for customs between Northern Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom. Now, Britain says that the protocol is not feasible and after months of negotiations with the EU has failed to reach any solution.

Truss announced to parliament, “I am declaring our intent to introduce legislation over the next weeks to amend the protocol.” Truss laughed at the jeers of the opposition.

She stated that “our preference is a negotiated resolution with the EU” and added, “In parallel with the introduction of legislation, we are open to further discussions.”

She indicated that her government would continue to push for the legislation through both the Houses of Parliament, regardless how future discussions with the EU progress.

Legislation that envisions a “green canal” to allow goods to move between Britain and Northern Ireland.

Johnson stated Monday that the government required an “insurance option” to unilaterally change some post-Brexit rules. The protocol as it stands was jeopardizing a long-standing peace agreement in the British-ruled Province.

It’s not been pleasurable

Stephen Doughty (a spokesperson for Labour Party’s foreign policy) acknowledged that there are problems, but stated that Britain needs “calm heads” and responsible leadership.

He said, “It’s deeply troubling that the foreign secretary proposes a bill that appears to break the treaty signed by the government just two years back, that won’t resolve Northern Ireland issues long-term and instead will undermine trust.”

The EU stated repeatedly that trade problems must be addressed within the framework of the protocol.

Sefcovic stated that the announcement by the British government, “would remove constitutive elements from the protocol”, raises serious concerns.

He stated that if the UK decided to proceed with the bill to disapply constitutive components of the protocol, as the UK government announced today, then the EU would need to take all necessary measures to counter it.

Britain is delaying many of these checks. It has caused red tape to entangle some foodstuffs during a period when energy and food prices have risen, which in turn has contributed to recession fears.

Archie Norman, chairman of retailer Marks & Spencer (OTC:) and a former Conservative Party lawmaker, said the British government’s proposals were a “triumph of common sense”.

Angela McGowan is the Director of Northern Ireland at Confederation of British Industry. She called on both parties to demonstrate flexibility in order to achieve “peace and prosperity”.

She stated that “With great political will, a landing area can be found so that GB/NI trade flows are smoothed.”

Johnson was pressured to make changes after the outcome of the Northern Ireland regional elections. Unionists had refused to accept a new administration until there were modifications to trading rules.

Jeffrey Donaldson is the leader of the biggest pro-British party, the Democratic Unionist Party. He appreciated Truss’s willingness to take action, but reserved judgement on whether or not his party will return to power-sharing.

Donaldson said that they hoped for progress in a bill so these problems could be dealt with in days, weeks, and not months. Donaldson stated that the Irish Sea boundary should be removed.