The Northern Ireland Protocol under Brexit has affected trade in livestock, seed potatoes, seeds, plants and even machinery between Northern Ireland and Scotland – and there are few signs this will be solved easily or quickly.
Reports suggests the EU is rejecting all suggestions to ease the restrictions.
The EU is determined to treat the UK as a third country with no special advantages but Northern Ireland remains in the EU single market, creating an effective border in the Irish Sea.
This lack of flexibility from Brussels is not a good sign for progress over food exports from Great Britain into the EU. Trade will effectively be normal from the EU into the UK but there are restrictions on exports from Great Britain into the EU.
However, the Irish Farmers Association said this week the reopening of the catering sector in the UK would boost Irish beef prices