Trade between Northern Ireland, the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland was straightforward before Brexit – all parties were in the EU and shared the same trade rules.
However, when the UK left the EU, a deal was required to allow trade to continue between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The EU has strict food rules, and requires border checks when certain goods – such as milk and eggs – arrive from non-EU countries like the UK. Paperwork is also required for other goods.
But the idea of checks at the Irish border is a sensitive issue because of Northern Ireland’s political history.
It was feared that introducing cameras or border posts as part of checks on incoming and outgoing goods could lead to instability.
