Ireland uniquely exposed to reversal of globalisation, IMF warns

The IMF has noted the Irish economy’s strength and positive growth outlook. Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPA Since it acceded to the World Trade Organisation in 2001, China has surfed the globalisation wave like no other. The figures are eye-watering. Between 2001 and 2023, Beijing's GDP (gross domestic product) increased from $1.3 trillion (€1.13 trillion) to $18 trillion, while its annual trade in goods jumped from $510 billion to $6.3 trillion. If you're looking for a northern hemisphere equivalent, Ireland, on a per capita basis, might well fit the bill. There's certainly no other country in Europe that has experienced a bigger…