The Northern Ireland protocol isn’t perfect, but it can work | David Phinnemore

If the UK and EU's wrangling over the agreement is to end, both sides must honour their commitment to pragmatism

Brexit, by definition, was always going to be disruptive. And the harder the Brexit, the greater the disruption.

Leaving a customs union and a single market, even if you subsequently secure a free trade agreement, means the reintroduction of customs formalities, regulatory checks and other non-tariff barriers. And if you agree with the European Union that part of the state will de facto remain in the EU's customs territory and its internal market for goods, those frictions will be within the UK.