An SNP minister has admitted that independence would mean border checks on the movement of goods between Scotland and England.
Jamie Hepburn insisted that ending the Union would not impose any restrictions on personal travel due to the existing Common Travel Area between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
But he said the "new reality" of an independent Scotland looking to join the European Union would mean "border checks on some goods".
Hepburn, who was appointed minister for independence by Humza Yousaf, claimed the economic benefits of joining the EU would outweigh any negatives.
Asked about possible job losses if a border was erected between Gretna and Berwick, Hepburn told BBC Scotland: "First of all, we're not talking about a hard border.
"People would be able to move freely across these islands, just like the position of the Republic of Ireland and the UK, that's long established, long before either had joined the EU."
Hepburn added: "Of course, as we move forward and into the new reality of an independent Scotland looking to be part of the EU, there will have to be border checks on some goods. But, let's remember the European market is some seven times larger than the UK market. We have real opportunities by re-engaging with Europe.
"Scotland, right now, exports more goods to the rest of the world than it does to the rest of the UK."
He continued: "If you look at what Brexit has done, it has shaved roughly five per cent off the UK economy, we are getting dragged down with that.
"Independence gives us the chance to re-engage with the rest of the world and reduce some of that damage."
Nicola Sturgeon previously admitted that Scotland becoming independent would cause "challenges" at the border with England.
Speaking at the launch of a series of policy papers on independence last year, the former SNP leader said: "It's important to say that we are not dealing here with issues about the movement of people. No one with any credibility could argue that Scotland would not remain within the Common Travel Area.
"With regulatory and customs issues, we've got to work out how that operates in a way would fulfil the requirements that would be on us in terms of EU membership."
She added: "I'm not going to shy away from any of these issues. I think the benefits of Scotland being independent far outweigh any of these challenges."
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