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The UK’s Brexit Minister has reiterated his belief that the NI Protocol is unsustainable in its current form.
Lord Frost was speaking after meeting business leaders in NI.
UK and EU officials are engaged in intensive technical talks aimed at simplifying the operation of the protocol.
A “stock-taking” meeting involving Lord Frost and European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic could take place next week.
However it is understood that the technical talks have made limited progress.
They are covering around 30 issues ranging from VAT on used cars, to pet travel and the movement of food products from GB to NI. image captionThe NI Protocol is the part of the Brexit deal that creates a trade border in the Irish Sea
UK officials believe that viable solutions are in sight for perhaps two issues, with partial solutions possible in maybe half a dozen other areas.
But the two sides are still far apart on the majority of issues, particularly the possibility of an agri-food agreement.
The protocol is the part of the Brexit deal that creates a trade border in the Irish Sea in order to prevent a hardening of the Irish land border. ADVERTISEMENT
It was agreed by the UK and EU in October 2019 and was subject to further negotiation and agreement in 2020.
It keeps Northern Ireland in the EU single market for goods and means EU customs rules are enforced at its ports.
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