Brexit angst resurfaces: UK's Johnson sees room for a deal on N.Ireland post-Brexit trade

It is reported today that the UK government is expected to reveal a plan to unilaterally change the Nothern Irlenadf protocol on Tuesday.

The Belfast Telegraph newspaper is cited by Reuters in reporting that the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he wanted to resolve a standoff with the European Union over Northern Ireland's post-Brexit trade rules, but he kept open the option of unilateral action that the EU says could start a trade war.

"Johnson was due to travel to Belfast on Monday to urge local political leaders to form a new power-sharing government, a key institution under the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement.

After elections this month, pro-British unionists refused to join a new administration because of their opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol which governs post-Brexit trade.

Johnson, in excerpts of an article to be published by the Belfast Telegraph newspaper which were released late on Sunday, said reform of the Protocol was essential for Northern Ireland to move forward.

"There is without question a sensible landing spot in which everyone's interests are protected," he said. "Our shared objective must be to the create the broadest possible cross-community support for a reformed Protocol in 2024.""

"While the UK is now leaning toward legislation rather than Article 16, the effect is similar, analysts at TD Securities said. "Expect retaliatory threats from the EU, but on both sides, any changes will be a long bureaucratic process, meaning Brexit could be in the news for another year or more."