5.7 Beijing

5.7 Beijing

The need to build on our growing relationship with China, to gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges for exports and investment and to promote cooperation, has led the Department to make its first deployment to the Irish Embassy in Beijing.

The Trade Counsellor took up position in January 2020 and is deepening links on trade and bilateral issues. The Counsellor works closely with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to raise the profile of Ireland in China and the broader region.

Case Study: DETE in London

The Department’s team plays a key role leading the Local Market Team in the UK, which focuses on securing inward investment and increasing Irish exports, working together with the enterprise agencies to maximise opportunities for Irish business in the UK market. This role also requires supporting and coordinating the activities of a number of other state agencies who have offices in the UK such as Bord Bia and Tourism Ireland.

Since the signing of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement in 1965, the Department in its various formations over the years has maintained the posting of senior officials (seconded to Department of Foreign Affairs) to cover economic and commercial affairs at the Irish Embassy in London. There are currently three members of the Department working in the Irish Embassy in London and their primary objective is to cultivate and enhance bilateral economic relations between the UK and Ireland. Their key tasks are varied and include:

The Department’s team in London provide regular reports and analysis on developments in UK policy that may influence Irish enterprise policy. Such developments may relate to policy proposals in areas such as trade policy, better regulation, employment rights, climate change, taxation and research & innovation, etc. This research includes tracking policy initiatives and legislative proposals through both the Houses of Commons and Lords, and parliamentary committees.

• Lead engagement on the economic and commercial agenda in conjunction with colleagues in the Embassy from DFA, DAFM, D/Finance and Revenue.

• Build and develop strong relationships with UK Government departments, agencies, institutions and parliamentary groups across Whitehall.

• Track, research, analyse and report on policy developments in the UK economy that may have implications for Ireland.

• Support the enterprise development agencies (Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland) to expand access for Irish businesses to the UK market and to attract investment from the UK.

Negotiations between the EU and UK on the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) were completed and agreed on 24 December 2020. It is in place provisionally since the 1st of January 2021, when the Brexit transition period ended and the UK membership of the European Union formally ceased. In addition to the Withdrawal Agreement and the Northern Ireland Protocol, the terms of the TCA will be a persistent feature of the future relationship between the EU and the UK.

• Facilitate and support ministerial trade missions, high-level visits, enterprise agency events and other relevant bilateral engagements.

Another very important part of the Department’s representative role in London is to develop and maximise links with the Irish business diaspora, especially through the Irish networks and lobby groups in Britain. The Department’s staff based in the Irish Embassy in London support the work of Irish business networks; for example, the Irish International Business Network (IIBN), the London-Irish Construction Network (TLICN) and the London-Irish Business Society (LIBS), including their contribution to the work and objectives of the business development agencies and facilitating events and programmes.

The EU-UK TCA sets out a framework for cooperation and platform to build a new trade relationship. The TCA is also dependent on a continual process of discussion and review, and the new rules will result in many changes and challenges. Engagement with UK representatives within EU fora is no longer possible, and therefore sustained engagement by DETE officials based in the Embassy in London is essential in maintaining a constructive bilateral economic relationship across the UK system.