John Whelan: Years after Brexit, Irish food sector faces even more volatility due to Trump

However there are positive signs that the UK is back on the radar of an increasing number of exporters.

Brexit created problems for exporters but volatility from the Trump administration has made it a much more complex picture. 

When the UK left the EU in January 2020, many Irish companies bypassed the UK, particularly those in the agri-food sector. Many headed straight for mainland Europe, others for the Middle East, US, and Asia.

But many others persisted with their established customers in the UK and only survived through determination, perseverance, or, in some cases, a total redesign of their supply chain.