The EU will push for the United States to fully implement a tariff deal agreed months ago whilst lobbying for more tariff exemptions.
EU trade ministers are meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Brussels.
Ireland will be represented by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee TD.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Minister McEntee said: “I am looking forward to my first meeting as Trade Minister with my European counterparts and Commissioner Šefčovič today. Since the beginning of the year, the international trade landscape has fundamentally changed, impacting Irish and European businesses and consumers. I am committed to working with my European colleagues to address the challenges we now face.
“I welcome the opportunity to discuss ongoing trade negotiations, China and EU-US trade relations. In the new international trade environment it is vital that we seek to diversify our markets and strike trade deals with new, reliable partners around the world. I will be delivering the clear message that Ireland supports EU efforts to achieve this and how it is especially important in the context of the current global trade turbulence.”
“I am looking forward to the lunch discussion with our US counterparts. Now is the time to build on the EU-US Trade Agreement in August and reinforce the transatlantic trade relationship. The EU and US must approach our trade relations in a positive, constructive manner based on mutual respect, shared values and common goals as we work towards a new and mutually beneficial trade and investment relationship.”
Speaking this morning as he arrived for the meeting the EU’s Trade Commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, said that trade and tariff talks with the US were making progress.
“The EU and US have a robust deal in place and today is about taking stock of its implementation”, he said.
But EU ministers want to go further and convince the US to remove tariffs on key products.
The wines and spirits industry has been particularly vocal on this. There are also ongoing discussions about steel.
The EU-US discussions take place against a background of movement towards a peace deal over Ukraine.
Officials said the trade meeting would not be the place to discuss this even though one suggestion in Trump’s 28-point plan is the idea to give Ukraine access to the European Union single market.