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UK could implement N.Ireland trade changes this year - PM

STORY: The legislation, which would unilaterally replace parts of that bilateral deal known as the Northern Ireland protocol, is due to be sent back to parliament's lower house for a second reading. That is one of the stages of the law's passage through the legislature.

Tensions have simmered for months after Britain accused the EU of a heavy-handed approach to the movement of goods between Britain and Northern Ireland - checks needed to keep an open border with EU member Ireland.

Johnson says the new legislation will bring about "relatively trivial" changes to the protocol to ease trade within the United Kingdom, but the EU has launched legal proceedings against Britain over it.

Asked if the changes could be implemented this year, Johnson told broadcasters: "Yes, I think we could do it very fast, parliament willing."

Speaking at a G7 meeting in Bavaria ahead of a planned virtual address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Johnson also said that leaders at the summit continued to be united in their support for Ukraine.