British Prime Minister Theresa May has split her senior ministers into two groups in an attempt to work out differences of opinion over the UK’s future customs arrangements.
Resolving the issue is central to ensuring there is no return to a hard border on the island of Ireland.
The British cabinet is considering two options – one is a customs partnership with the European Union which Mrs May is understood to support.
Under this proposal, the UK would collect tariffs on goods entering the country on the EU's behalf.
Pro-Brexiteers in the Conservative Party oppose this saying it would keep the UK too closely bound to the EU.
The other option is known as "maximum facilitation" or using technology to track goods.
Traders on an approved list or "trusted traders" would be able to cross the border freely with the aid of automated technology.
Remainers say this would result in border checks and the technology for such a solution has not been invented.
The EU has said it does not consider either solution workable.
Brussels is expecting Mrs May to have made progress by a summit next month, and both sides want to reach an agreement by October.
Pro-Brexit lobby group fined over referendum spending
A pro-Brexit lobby group in the UK has been fined £70,000 for breaching electoral laws relating to funding and spending.
The Leave.EU campaign was found to have incorrectly reported what it spent during the 2016 referendum on membership of the European Union.
The group said it would challenge the finding that it had breached a spending limit by failing to declare at least £77,380 pounds.
It said the alleged breaches were minor and the findings proved there was no "big conspiracy" around the Brexit vote.
The investigation into Leave.EU began in April 2017.
A separate inquiry into spending by the official Leave campaign, Vote Leave, is continuing.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Nigel Farage 'to remain UKIP MEP'
Nigel Farage has quashed speculation that he was considering joining the DUP.
The former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader is due at an event hosted by the pro-Brexit DUP in Ballymena in Co Antrim this evening.
DUP MP Ian Paisley has dismissed "media fever" over the issue and said he would be discussing the EU withdrawal and its aftermath with Mr Farage.
Mr Farage said: "I will be a remaining UKIP MEP.
"I am happy to support those who supported the Leave campaign during the Brexit referendum.
"My visit is nothing more than that."
