3.8 Access2Markets Online Trade Portal

3.8 Access2Markets Online Trade Portal

In December, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in conjunction with the European Commission’s DG Trade held a one-day online tutorial for over fifty Irish companies to demonstrate the advantage of the EC Access2Markets tool.

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This was followed up with on-line publicity by the Department and DG Trade to targeted Irish exporters and importers.

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“The Irish Government has committed to providing significant

financial resources to help companies navigate the post- Brexit landscape and to continue to overcome the challenges posed to their businesses by COVID-19. The Access2Markets online portal is another tool, freely available to all businesses, to help them make the most of the EU’s network of international trade agreements and get the best access to the markets, products and inputs they need to grow and stay competitive. I would encourage Irish exporting companies who wish to grow their exports to become familiar with this platform and take advantage of the network of countries with which the EU has negotiated Free Trade Agreements”.

In October 2020 the European Commission launched the Access2Markets online portal to help small and mediumsized firms trade beyond the EU’s borders. The Portal can be accessed at Access2Markets Welcome home page (europa.eu).

The portal responds to requests from stakeholders to better explain EU trade agreements and help companies ensure their products are eligible for duty discounts. It will serve both companies that already trade internationally and those only starting to explore opportunities in foreign markets.

The Rules of Origin Self-Assessment tool (ROSA) is a free interactive tool developed by the European Commission which allows exporters using EU trade agreements to learn about preferential rules of origin and assess if their product qualifies for the tariff preferences that trade agreements offer. It can also be used by suppliers to an exporting company to assess the origin of their product before they issue a supplier’s declaration.

Robert Troy, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation

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