Brexit accelerates North-South trade as more firms use NI to move goods
Brexit has accelerated trade between the Republic and Northern Ireland asmore firms use the North to bypass customs checks.
The latest trade figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show the value of goods imports from Northern Ireland to the Republic increased by 60 per cent to €1.05 billion during the first four months of 2021.
The value of exports from the Republic to the North was up by 40 per cent to €977 million over the same period.
Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, trade in goods with Britain is subject to customs checks. However, while Northern Ireland remains within the customs territory of the UK, it is simultaneously within the EU single market for the movement of goods. This means goods moving between Northern Ireland and the Republic are not subject to customs checks.
