Clare Businessman Claims Distributors In Mainland Europe More Competitive Than Those In Britain

A Clare retailer claims European distributors have overtaken those in Britain in terms of competitiveness and accessibility. It comes as data from the Central Statistics Office reveals imports from Britain have fallen by 34% to €1.3 billion in the last year. Due to increased supply costs and additional red tape owing to Brexit, many Irish retailers have been forced to seek alternatives to familiar British suppliers. Patrick Bourke of Patrick Bourke Menswear in Ennis and Kilrush believes the trade relationship between Ireland and Britain will never be what it was due to a changed post-Brexit market.