The DUP has set February 21 as a fresh deadline for when the UK Government needs to deliver progress in its negotiations with the European Union over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss met Stormont leaders on Thursday, with First Minister Paul Givan warning that the Government must take unilateral action if an agreed position cannot be reached with the EU.
But Sinn Fein has warned that any attempt to trigger Article 16 of the protocol would cause more uncertainty in Northern Ireland.
