Irish exporters seek stronger UK trade ties

The head of the Irish Exporters Association (IEA) has called on the Government to strengthen bilateral trade links with the UK, no matter the outcome of Britain’s referendum on its future with the EU.

UK prime minister David Cameron has promised to hold an in-out vote on Britain’s membership of the EU before the end of 2017, a move that has worried many large and small exporters here because Britain imports so many goods and services from Ireland.

The IEA estimates the chances of Britain voting to exit are low — it evaluates the risk at 10% — but wants the two countries to work harder to establish ways that they could strengthen trading ties ahead of the 2017 vote.