What are the economic implications of the Northern Ireland Protocol?

Analysis: The UK government seems to be unilaterally ripping up some of the key provisions of the Northern Ireland Protocol. But what was that agreement originally supposed to achieve? And what economic repercussions might these new actions have? Ben Chu investigates

A lorry passes an anti-Brexit pro-Irish unity billboard (AFP via Getty)

The government’s Internal Market Bill published on Wednesday has raised a hurricane of alarm because, as the Northern Ireland Secretary sensationally admitted in Parliament this week, it threatens to break international law.

This is because the bill would override, or disregard, commitments made by the UK government as part of the Northern Ireland Protocol which was part of the EU Withdrawal Treaty signed by Boris Johnson’s administration last year.