Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Trade across the Irish border - Statistics & Facts
The United Kingdom (UK) is officially outside of the European Union as of January 1, 2021. The Withdrawal Agreement concluded between the UK and the EU was key with regards to setting the terms of the relationship between Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, and the Republic of Ireland, which remained in the EU. The Agreement included a special protocol that clarified one of the trickiest issues of the Brexit process: the land border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the new customs agreements and tariffs on products and services traded between South and North. Honoring the progress made thanks to the Good Friday Agreement, the protocol ensured that there was no land border. Additionally, while technically out of the EU, Northern Ireland continued trade with the Republic of Ireland without checks or tariffs imposed. Trade on the island continues with minimal friction, which was a priority for businesses with already established supply chains. In 2018, total trade across the Irish border was valued at approximately 7.4 billion euros, with trade flowing North to South accounting for a larger share, at 4.7 billion compared to South to North trade, which was valued at 2.7 billion euros that year.
