UK demands waiver on Northern Ireland Brexit checks to 2023

LONDON -- The U.K. demanded the EU extend waivers on post-Brexit checks on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland for almost two years, after Boris Johnson accused the bloc of having "undermined" the Northern Ireland protocol.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove made the request in a letter to European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič in a bid to avoid further disruption on trade across the Irish Sea. It comes after threats were made against staff carrying out checks at Northern Ireland's ports, and amid ongoing tangles with new post-Brexit checks.

Gove suggested that if the demands are not met, the U.K. could trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol -- overriding the arrangement as the EU threatened to do on vaccines. Gove is due to hold a meeting with Šefčovič and Northern Irish leaders this afternoon.

EU rebuffs UK demand to soften Northern Ireland Brexit trade terms

DUBLIN/LONDON (Reuters) - The European Union on Wednesday appeared to rebuff a British demand for an extended grace period for Brexit checks on goods going from Britain to Northern Ireland, with a senior official saying recent issues could be resolved under the current deal.