Brexit the NI Protocol and the Free Trade Conundrum

The EU decided to implement the classification of GB as a third country from 1st January but GB will only introduce Customs and Import controls from July 2021.

In GB there would appear to be widespread concern at exports to the EU and to NI. I say appears as without more evidence that these difficulties are actually widespread it is problematic that political noise is drowning out reality!

Questions that need to be objectively assessed are:

1) are checks on goods from GB to NI made deliberately and unduly onerous?

2) are EU Officials in NI strictly abiding by their role as advisory only?

3) with regard to GB exports to the EU are checks on goods made deliberately and unduly onerous?

4) what does an objective and thorough investigation show in relation to EU Customs and Import Controls from other 3rd Countries compared with those applying currently to GB.

All of this has to be seen against the background that there is a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and GB. So before rushing into unilaterally applying Article 16 of the NI Protocol or even repudiating the Withdrawal Agreement it is necessary for evidence and facts!