Containers at Dublin Port, which could be impacted by both Brexit uncertainty and trade wars in 2020. Photograph: Alan Betson
Under Brexit’s provisions, goods are set to be checked crossing the Irish Sea – meaning no Border checks here. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos US president Donald Trump: can change the market with a tweet. Photograph: Eric Thayer/The New York Times Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe: may have to deal with EU corporate tax reform. Photograph Nick BradshawPrevious ImageLast year the Irish economy dodged the bullets. The prospect of the UK crashing out of the European Union without a withdrawal agreement was taken off the table. Trade tensions ebbed and flowed, but did not explode. Talk on international tax reform continued – but with no agreement yet. These risks were all postponed – not removed.
What about 2020? It looks like another year of living dangerously – with all the major risks still on the table. With no clarity on the more significant threats likely until later in the year – if then – the economy enters the year with significant momentum. But predicting how it will end in 2020 is another matter entirely. Here are five key things to watch.