THE British government's new legislation to override parts of its Brexit deal with the European Union is "the kind of action that's required" to protect trade within the UK, the DUP has said.
Leader Jeffrey Donaldson welcomed the tabling of the new bill to scrap parts of the 2019 Withdrawal Agreement.
The DUP has said it will not re-enter a Stormont executive without changes to the protocol.
"I believe that finally we are now seeing the kind of action that's required to begin the process of removing the barriers to trade within the United Kingdom," Mr Donaldson said.
He added that the British government "has a primary responsibility to protect the integrity of the UK and its internal market".
However, Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O'Neill said her party and others who signed yesterday's joint letter from MLAs who oppose the planned legislation were "speaking on behalf of the people" in the north.
"We opposed Brexit but we accept the protocol is mitigation," Ms O'Neill said.
"We have had a number of business organisations out very strongly to say the protocol is working. What Boris Johnson is doing today is to undermine all of that, bringing economic uncertainty. He is jeopardising jobs, local jobs.
"I just don't think it is acceptable and it is important that we call it out."
Alliance MLA Sorcha Eastwood said the bill was an "appalling piece of legislation", adding: "If enacted, this will undermine Northern Ireland's unfettered access to the EU Single Market. Even the threat of the legislation will undermine the region as an investment location due to enhanced uncertainty.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the legislation was an "outrageous breach of international law" that "does not have the support of people, businesses or political leaders in Northern Ireland".
Labour leader Keir Starmer said issues surrounding the protocol could be "resolved around the negotiating table with statecraft, guile and trust".
"Unfortunately we don't have these with the current prime minister. They won't be resolved by legislation that breaks international law and that functionally will impede the negotiations that in the end will be needed to settle this," he added.
Meanwhile, the proposals contained in the bill will cause "further uncertainty" and possibly future "red tape" for businesses in the north, it has been warned.
Ross Boyd, director at RB+ Chartered Accountants, said the new legislation comes as many firms "want to focus on profitable growth".
"With high inflation, low growth market conditions and increasing corporate and personal taxes, many will be keen to see support from the government, however, it seems from today’s announcement that we are simply looking at the introduction of further red tape that could inhibit growth for businesses across the country," he said.
The chief executive of Chambers Ireland, Ian Talbot, warned the prospect of new friction between the UK and EU meant businesses must once again "begin planning for a no-deal Brexit".
"This is no way to conduct business. Only the least reliable of counterparties are so fickle and false with their word. How can any state expect a genuine relationship with Britain when this is how they act," he said.
Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts urged the UK and EU to "restart intensive negotiations with a new sense of urgency and for both sides to go the extra mile for an agreement".
