Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Ireland’s consistent position remains that we need substantive, calm, measured and comprehensive dialogue with the United States. I am pleased to say this is also the position of the European Union, which has shared a constructive proposal for scoping out a negotiation between the two sides. At the same time, we understand the need for the EU to undertake further internal preparations in case negotiations are unsuccessful. This often gets misrepresented. The European Union does not want to see tariffs or trade barriers. In many areas, we are offering zero for zero in terms of tariffs but we would be pretty darn foolish to go into negotiations without negotiating from a position of strength. We have to have a backup plan and do preparatory work if the United States continues to wish to harm our economic interests. This is a sensible and measured approach.

It should be remembered that to date, the EU has not imposed any tariffs on the US while EU and Irish exporters are subjected today to 10% tariffs on exports. We have shown extraordinary restraint in the face of great provocation. We must also be upfront in that there are still risks of further sectoral tariffs, including due to the section 232 investigations on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and now aircraft and aircraft parts.

On 8 May, the European Commission published its draft list of proposed rebalancing measures against the US. The list concerns imports from the US to the EU worth around €95 billion. It covers a broad range of industrial and agricultural products. In addition to the list of proposed rebalancing measures, the Commission published a much shorter list of EU goods exported to the US, and public consultation is currently open for comment until 10 June.

Since this dispute began, I have been in frequent communication with Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and I recently met with the Commissioner and fellow trade ministers at an EU Trade Council meeting in Brussels on 15 May. My officials and I are also engaging with business stakeholders to understand potential impacts, including through the Government trade forum, which I chair. We will continue to convey these to the European Commission and urge stakeholders to participate in the EU’s public consultation directly.

Our message is clear: the EU is ready to move forward. We urge the US to engage rapidly and to reach a fair and timely solution.

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