Watch: EU 'shouldn't just agree' on Trump demands - Heydon
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has today (May 26) said that Ireland recognises that the EU needs to negotiate with the US "from a position of strength".
Minister Heydon was speaking at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels this morning.
He said: "Ireland recognises that the EU does not want to be in this position. The EU does not want to be coming with a counter list.
"We believe tariffs are bad, they’re damaging for us, and the United States. It’s unfortunate that we’re in this situation, where we have to come with an alternative list."
"We also recognise that for Commissioner Sefocvic to negotiate on our behalf, he needs to do so from a position of strength," Minister Heydon explained.
The minister believes that the EU's approach to tariffs has been "measured", and that it wants to get a deal that works for both the EU and US.
"(The EU is) demonstrating the close mutually beneficial nature of that trade. That is something that is lost on the American position at times," Minister Heydon said.
"It is in all of our interests, in Ireland and beyond, that we maintain a working relationship afterwards."
"We are a trading bloc of almost 460 million people. We are one of the most important trading partners for the US. We shouldn’t just agree to whatever the demand is from the White House," he added.
US President Donald Trump has said he will extend the deadline for a straight 50% tariff rate on the European Union to July 9, 2025.
President Trump said that the the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen requested the extension in a phone call between the two.
He said: "She called me and asked for an extension on the June 1 date. She said she wants to get down to serious negotiation. We had a very nice call, I agreed to move it. I believe July 9 would be date. I agreed to do that.
"She said we would rapidly get together and work something out."
Last Friday (May 23), the president said that he was recommending that the tariff rate would begin on June 1.
Speaking on social media yesterday (May 25) President von der Leyen said that the EU is ready to advance talks "swiftly and decisively".
She said: "The EU and US share the world’s most consequential and close trade relationship. Europe is ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively.
"To reach a good deal, we would need the time until July 9," she explained.
The Tánaiste, Simon Harris has welcomed the confirmation that the tariffs will be paused.
He said: "The EU - US economic relationship is an engine of growth for the entire world. There is no doubt that the circumstances are challenging at present but I am confident that we can find a way forward.
"Ireland will continue to contribute actively and positively to these efforts. I remain in close and ongoing contact with Commissioner Sefcovic and with our EU partners and, of course, we will continue our outreach to the US."
"We have much work to do and no time to waste to find a deal that that is good for both economies and protects jobs and investment," he explained.
