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World Trade Organization

The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland involves an unprecedented set of formal trade arrangements for Northern Ireland: de jure part of the UK customs territory, de facto in the EU customs territory and part of the EU single market for goods, yet 'unfettered access' to the rest of the UK market when the UK is neither in a customs union with the EU nor in its single market for goods. This has raised questions about the compatibility of arrangements provided for in the Protocol with the UK's obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It is possible that disputes will arise and need to be resolved via the WTO's dispute settlement mechanisms.

Details of any disputes will be provided here.