Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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32. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the United States Administration. [8909/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Ms. Katherine Tai has been nominated by President Biden to serve as the next United States Trade Representative (USTR), a cabinet level role which will see Ms. Tai act as President Biden's principle advisor/negotiator on all US trade policy related matters. Ms. Tai can only take up her office following confirmation of her nomination by the US Senate. However, I know that EU Commission Executive Vice-President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis will seek to meet with Ms. Tai at the earliest opportunity in order to discuss the full range of EU-US trade relations including many shared priorities for Ireland.

Both the EU Commission and Member State Trade Ministers, including myself, continue to have the transatlantic trade and investment relationship as a key policy priority.

Bilaterally, Ireland and the US have a long-standing trade and investment relationship based on broadly similar values and interests that has proved hugely beneficial in many ways for both our countries. In that regard, Ireland remains fully invested in and committed to a continued strong partnership with the US. Top level engagement with the new US Administration aimed at resetting the EU-US trade relationship and the elimination of existing tariffs is an EU priority which would represent a positive development for trade and jobs on both sides of the Atlantic and something I am strongly invested in and support at EU Trade Minister level.

Pending the appointment of the next USTR, my officials have maintained ongoing contact with the Office of the USTR both from Dublin, most recently with a senior officials meeting by VC in late January, and from Washington, where my Department's Trade Counsellor and his colleagues in the Embassy led by our Ambassador are in continuous engagement with the Office of the USTR.

Ms. Gina Raimondo, the current Governor of Rhode Island, has been nominated as the next Commerce Secretary and is awaiting confirmation by the Senate. A Hearing of the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has taken place and the Committee subsequently met on the 3 February 2021 to vote on her nomination. A full Senate vote is awaited before Ms. Raimondo is confirmed in post.

The US Department of Labor’s mission includes the protection of working conditions and fostering opportunities for profitable employment. Given my own Department’s work on ensuring safe workplaces, employment rights and industrial relations, and in the area of future skills needs, there are areas of mutual interest between my Department and the US Department of Labor.

Mr. Marty Walsh is President Biden’s nominee for US Secretary of Labor. The US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions conducted a Hearing and subsequent vote on Mr. Walsh’s nomination on 11 February 2021. A full Senate vote is awaited before Mr. Walsh can be confirmed as Secretary for Labor.