Impact of EEC enlargement on Ireland trade in manufactured goods

Abstract

The study examines the likely impact on Ireland's trade in manufactures of the accessions of Greece, Portugal and Spain to the EECSITC3-digit trade data (for 1978-1983) for manufactures are used to compute two indices: trade conformity and export similarity. The indices reveal that Spain, independently of its relatively larger size, is likely to be more important than either Greece or Portugal both as a trading partner for Ireland, and as a competitor to Ireland in exporting to the rest of the EEC . The study also identities the commodity groups likely to account for increased trade possibilities for Ireland, and for increased competition for Ireland.