Tánaiste to participate in Trade Ministers Meeting on EU-US Trade Relations
- Foilsithe: 12 Feabhra 2025
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 12 Aibreán 2025
Tánaiste Simon Harris will take part in a virtual meeting of EU Trade Ministers and Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovičto to discuss EU-US Trade Relations later today.
Trade Ministers will take stock of the US Executive Order signed on 10 February placing a 25% duty on steel and aluminium imports to begin on 12 March. The EU is assessing the scope of the measures announced.
This meeting will be an opportunity to put forward Ireland’s views on the current trade situation and to listen to the views of the other 26 Trade Ministers on how they may be affected and how the EU should respond.
Ireland agrees with Commissioner Šefčovič that retaliation should not be the EU’s preferred scenario and is supportive of the Commission’s ongoing engagement with the US, while recognising that it is necessary for the EU to respond in a firm and proportionate way.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade said:
"My priority is to protect the interests of Irish and European businesses, workers and consumers from unfair tariffs measures and to avoid an escalation of tit-for-tat tariffs.
“The EU-US trade and investment relationship is the biggest in the world. There is a lot at stake. I believe that we should be looking at how to strengthen this deeply integrated relationship, not placing further obstacles in the way of trade flows.
“We stand united with our EU partners on the need to take action to safeguard our economic interests. I support the Commission’s work in seeking early engagement with our US partners. We are ready to work with the US administration to tackle shared concerns together."