Protocol pragmatism

SIR – According to the chatterati, the UK is breaching international law in seeking to amend the Northern Ireland Protocol.

I suggest that they actually read the Protocol – and, in particular, Article 16 and Annex 7. Then they might realise that our Government is acting lawfully, by using the safeguard mechanism laid down in the Protocol.

Plans made in theory do not always work in practice. The revisions put forward by Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, are a reasonable, practical way of making the Protocol work for all sides, including those of us shipping to Northern Ireland every day. Alastair Macmillan

Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire

SIR – You recently published letters from readers who had suffered – in flagrant disregard of the no-duty limit of €150 (£128) – punitive customs duty requirements for packages sent to Europe from Britain.

I run a small business that delivers across the EU, so I know that this outrageous practice is widespread. Just this week, a customer in Belgium reported a customs duty requirement of €24 on a package – with the correct paperwork – that had a value of €21.

The Government is keen to avoid a trade war with Europe over the Protocol. It needs to wake up to the fact that this has already started. Richard Light

Hitchin, Hertfordshire