Britain, EU set for tense showdown over Northern Ireland trade rules

A protestor wearing a Boris Johnson mask holds a placard in support of the Northern Ireland Protocol trade deal during a demonstration in Hillsborough, England, on 16 May, 2022. AFP - PAUL FAITH

After a months-long stalemate between London and Brussels, Britain on Monday set out new legislation amending the post-Brexit status of Northern Ireland – a move the EU has warned is in breach of international law.

The bill overrides a treaty governing trade rules and the movement of goods through Northern Ireland, which serves as the only land border between the United Kingdom and the European Union.