Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, international trade is a competence vested in the European Commission under the EU Treaties whereby the Union's negotiating strength is as a bloc of 27 Member States representing some 450 million citizens. As such, actions, decisions and negotiations on trade policy are conducted by the Commission on behalf of the Member States through the European Council and the Council's Trade Policy Committee.

Ireland and Israel have no bilateral trade or investment agreements. Trade relations between the EU and Israel are governed by a Free Trade Agreement that is part of the 2000 EU-Israel Association Agreement whereby the EU and Israel have continuously worked on improving trade and economic relations.

In light of the issue of the EU's exclusive competence, in regards to trade policy, individual Member States cannot unilaterally adopt trade measures or trade restrictions against a third country as such action would be in breach of the European treaties and would only serve to undermine EU and Irish government efforts as regards the Middle East peace process.