Brexit ‘would slash Irish-UK trade by 20%’

Bilateral trade flows between Ireland and Britain could fall by a minimum of 20% over the long-term, if the latter were to exit the EU, a new report has forecast.

In what it calls a ‘scoping’ exercise, economic think-tank the ESRI has penned a report on the economic consequences for Ireland of a British exit resulting from the British government’s planned referendum on EU membership.

It gives the 20% trade loss figure as an average, stressing the impact could be higher and would differ depending on the sector.