They have already lost their once mighty trade surplus with Ireland, which was the largest trade surplus GB had with any country in the  world. (It's apparent trade surplus with the USA is disputed by US stats).

No the prize isn't Ireland, it's obtaining N. Ireland's favourable access to EU markets for all of the UK. The original "have cake and eat it" strategy all over again. If N. Ireland can have a much mitigated protocol, why not all of the UK, with minimal or non existence checks on cross-channel trade?

Index of Frank's Diaries