3 years ago
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ARTICLE AD BOX
By Enda McClafferty
BBC News NI political editor
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, Post-Brexit inspections take place at Northern Ireland ports and customs documents have to be filled inThe UK government wants issues around the Northern Ireland Protocol settled by the autumn "one way or the other", its lead Brexit negotiator has said.
Lord Frost described the current negotiations with the EU over the protocol as "constructive".
However he told MPs on the House of Commons EU scrutiny committee that "gaps between them remain significant".
He said they were trying everything to "bridge the gaps" on the Brexit deal which prevents a hard Irish border.
Negotiators from London and Brussels have been locked in talks for more than a week after the EU published its proposals to break the deadlock on the protocol.
The protocol is the Brexit deal which prevents a hard Irish border by keeping Northern Ireland inside the EU's single market for goods.
That also creates a new trade border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, something the EU accepts is causing difficulties for many businesses.
Unionist politicians say the arrangement undermines Northern Ireland's place in the UK.
'Not far enough'
The EU has suggested a package of reforms which would reduce the practical impacts of the protocol.
The UK wants more fundamental change, including the removal of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) from its oversight role in the deal.
Lord Frost welcomed some of the EU proposals, which he said had acknowledged Brussels was ready to change its laws to deal with one issue.
But he said the problem was the proposals "don't go far enough".
MPs questioned Lord Frost about the role of the ECJ in any future disputes.
Lord Frost said: "We can't have the Courts of Justice settling disputes between us on the protocol."
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