Fast growth in cross border trade highlights dilemma of NI Protocol

The impressive growth in trade was mainly driven by a surge in exports from the North to the Republic, increasing by 48% in the first three months

Total cross border trade increased by one-third in the first three months to €1.4bn. File picture: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Sun, 30 May, 2021 - 13:51

John Whelan

An expert in Irish and international trade, John Whelan is a former Chief Executive of the Irish Exporters Association, a role he held for more than a decade and previously served as an export industry adviser to the AIB Bank Group.

Despite the many reservations about the Northern Ireland Protocol and incoming DUP leader Edwin Poots recent statement that it was "undeliverable", it has delivered for cross border traders in the first quarter of the year.

Total cross border trade increased by one-third in the first three months to €1.4bn.