A backstop solution to Brexit has some potential

Subject

Brexit negotiations.

Significance

A Northern Ireland-specific agreement is now the best hope for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to deliver Brexit by October 31 with a deal. While Johnson would likely accept alignment of Northern Ireland with EU rules if this meant replacing the UK-wide backstop, convincing his Northern Irish allies in the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) remains the key challenge.

Impacts

• Delivering Brexit with a deal will increase the prospects for a UK-US free trade agreement.
• A risk of a Northern Ireland backstop is that it will invite pressure from Scottish nationalists, who would want similar special treatment.
• The EU is likely to accept an Article 50 extension request if an election or referendum is due to take place.