Sinn Fein spokesperson for agriculture, Martin Kenny, has called on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon to maximise his engagement with US officials in relation to tariffs announced for Ireland when the minister travels to Washington for a trade mission next week.

Minister Heydon is set to travel to the US on an agri-food trade mission to meet political representatives in Washington, Irish agri-food companies, and American companies.

Deputy Kenny believes the announcement of 20% tariffs on EU exports is going to "seriously impact" the Irish dairy sector, the Irish whiskey sector, and other alcohol sectors.

He said: “Ireland exports 24% of Irish butter and 6% of Irish cheese to the US, and $1 billion-worth of Irish whiskey. These tariffs are clearly going to have an impact on the dairy and whiskey industry in Ireland.

Kenny added that Minister Heydon must meet with the Northern Executive Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, as soon as possible.

According to the Sinn Féin TD, the possibility of a differentiation in tariffs on the island "further compounds the threat to our all-Ireland economy".

Kenny had also called for clarity regarding the implications of the tariffs in the north under the terms of the Windsor Framework.

Kenny said: "Our island economy is inextricably linked in sectors such as agriculture. During the Brexit negotiations it was critical for the government to work with all political and sectoral leaders in Dublin, Belfast, Brussels, London, and Washington to ensure there was no hard border on the island of Ireland.

"The same must be applied in this scenario in order to protect the prosperity of everyone on our island.

“The minister must press these issues with the US officials he meets on his trade mission to Washington next week and stand up for Irish farmers north and south," he added.