My letter to the NY Times re: Ireland needs free trade, too

Re: Amid Brexit Strains, Anglo-Irish Relations Are "Fraying"

Dear Sirs:

This phrase in Mr. de Freytas-Tamura's article about Irish concern over Brexit should be instructive to Irish statesmen:

"But food producers worry most that if Britain crashes out of Europe, it would open itself to cheaper goods from countries outside the European Union, making Irish firms even less competitive."

Perhaps Ireland should open itself to "cheaper goods from countries outside the European Union", too. Oops, I forgot...since the EU imposes very high tariffs on food stuffs from outside the EU, the only way the Irish could have access to cheaper food stuffs would be to leave the EU and reduce its tariffs. Not a bad idea, really.