A DUP minister has said she would not oppose an EU/UK deal on agri-food movement similar to the one the bloc has with Switzerland.
Stormont economy minister Diane Dodds she would not be against anything that offered “short-term relief” from recent Irish Sea trade disruption.
However, Mrs Dodds expressed doubt about whether the UK Government would sign up to such a deal, given it would require alignment with EU regulations.
The Ulster Unionist Party had voiced support for a Swiss-style deal amid mounting anger among Northern Ireland unionists at the economic barriers Brexit has created between the region and the rest of the UK.