The Trade and Investment Advantages of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland

This paper by Blair Horan outlines how Northern Ireland stands to benefit from the unique trading status granted to it by the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, taking account of the proposals contained in the European Commission non-paper of 13 October 2021. The author argues that Northern Ireland has “the best of both worlds” as it continues to participate in the EU Single Market for goods whilst remaining in the UK Customs Union. This, the author argues, is a far superior outcome than that enjoyed by Great Britain under the terms of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.  

The author posits that any proposal that the Protocol should be removed should also examine what would be involved in removing the very clear benefits it brings for Northern Ireland. Ultimately, Northern Ireland’s unique trading status makes it a viable alternative distribution model to Great Britain to sell into both Great Britain and into the EU, because Northern Ireland is in the UK Customs Union and also has free circulation in the EU.