Ireland starts making contingency plans for UK trade war with EU

Irish deputy PM says UK triggering article 16 would precipitate collapse in relations with EU

Ireland has begun making contingency plans for a possible trade war between the EU and the UK in the event that Boris Johnson walks away from the Northern Ireland Brexit protocol.

Ireland's deputy prime minister, Leo Varadkar, also confirmed that suspending the trade deal struck by Lord Frost last December was the EU's likely response should the UK trigger article 16 of the protocol.