EU to launch legal action against UK over Northern Ireland grace periods

The EU is launching legal action against the UK over alleged breaches of the Northern Ireland Protocol (Niall Cason/PA)

The European Union is expected to formally launch legal action against the UK for unilaterally extending the post-Brexit grace periods to trade in Northern Ireland.

In an escalation of tensions, the European Commission was preparing on Monday to take the move over the British government’s alleged breach of the Northern Ireland Protocol.