Elizabeth Piper and Kate Holton

LONDON, (Reuters) – Britain rejected Wednesday’s European Union proposals for resolving a standoff regarding post-Brexit trade regulations for Northern Ireland. It said it was not afraid to take direct action during the latest escalation between the sides.

As London embarked upon its departure from the bloc, the greatest challenge was to reach a compromise that would preserve peace in Northern Ireland. It also protected the EU’s single marketplace without creating a land border.

Instead of establishing a border customs in the ocean between Northern Ireland, the UK and Ireland, it agreed to a protocol. However, the UK now claims that the bureaucracy required is unacceptable.

Since months London’s Conservative government threatened to end the protocol, increasing the danger of trade wars with Europe in a time when inflation is high and causing concern throughout Europe as well as Washington.

Brussels suggested that customs controls be relaxed in October. Liz Truss, British Foreign Secretary, said however that it did not solve the main problem.

In a statement, she stated, “Prices have risen and trade is being severely disrupted. The people of Northern Ireland are subject (to different laws and taxes) than those over the Irish Sea which has left them lacking a (governing executive) and poses a threat for peace and stability.

Truss said the government wanted a negotiated solution, but added we “will not shy away from taking action to stabilise the situation in Northern Ireland if solutions cannot be found”.

According to The Times, Boris Johnson could allow his government to legislate and eliminate checks on goods to tell Northern Irish businesses to ignore EU regulations.

A Conservative source claimed that Tuesday could be the day when domestic legislation would disapply this protocol.

‘FURTHER ACTION’

Johnson’s spokesperson declined to discuss what Britain might do to end the impasse, but reiterated that there had not been a decision.

Reporters were told that “The EU has confirmed that they won’t change their mandate …,”

Not everyone within British governance circles supports a particular legislative approach. It could take up to months for both the lower and the upper chambers of parliament to approve it.

Simon Hoare is a Conservative lawmaker and chair of the Northern Ireland select Committee. He stated that “no honorable country should act unilaterally in accordance with an agreement.”

If the House of Lords objected to the legislation the government could resort to the Parliament Acts (a rare device which resolves disputes between the upper and lower houses) to get it passed.

Britain has been urged by Germany, Ireland and other EU leaders not to get involved in the matter.

The elections held last week in Northern Ireland added momentum. Britain also said that it would not threaten the 1998 peace accord, which had largely ended decades worth of sectarian violence among unionists as well as nationalists.

Irish nationalist Sinn Fein (which accepts protocol in support of party’s goal for Irish unification) emerged as largest party. Democratic Unionist Party(DUP), fearing losing ties to London, was second.

The DUP is refusing to create a new power sharing administration until the trading rules have been changed.