Trade and industry

Abstract

This paper discusses trade aspects of Ireland's relations with Third World countries. As implied in the overall title of the symposium, "Ireland, Europe and the Third World", the topic is dealt with in a European Community (EC) setting. Such a setting is particularly appropriate in the case of trade. Unlike the case of aid, dealt with in Helen O'Neill's paper, Ireland does not have an independent bilateral trade policy regarding developing countries. Such trade policy is essentially an EC matter. As will be clear in subsequent sections of the paper, this country's membership of the Community is therefore fundamental to the nature of our present and potential trade relationships with the developing world. In discussing trade, the paper focuses principally on trade in manufactured goods. Trade in agricultural products comes within the ambit of the Common Agncultural Policy with which Alan Matthews is dealing.