The human rights group has written to UK and EU negotiators Lord Frost and Maroš Šefčovič to warn that human rights in Northern Ireland “cannot be allowed to become a casualty of any trade war”.

Amnesty said there could be “an effective roll-back on rights in Northern Ireland” without the equality and rights guarantees underpinned in the Northern Ireland protocol, the point of continuing contention between the UK and EU.

Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland programme director at Amnesty, said: “The commitment to the protection of rights and equality was central to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, which in turn has been essential to enduring peace in Northern Ireland. The protocol guarantees these rights for everyone in Northern Ireland.

“Any triggering of Article 16, and the repercussions which may follow – such as the suspension of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement – put these equality and human rights protections at risk.

“Both the UK and the EU have an obligation to make clear that these human rights and equality guarantees are not on the negotiating table. The rights of people in Northern Ireland cannot be allowed to become a casualty of any trade war.”