Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
798. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to correspondence (details supplied) sent to him by registered post; the steps he is taking to address the matters raised; and if he will engage with the correspondent. [41245/20]
View answerI am aware of the correspondence that the Deputy refers to, and I would say firstly that trade policy is a matter for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in the first instance.
Nonetheless, I am aware that the current trade tensions between the US and the European Union are a matter of concern, given the importance of EU-US bilateral trade to the Irish food and drink industry, which came to an overall value of €1.6 billion in 2019.
Ireland has raised its concerns at EU level, including at recent Informal Trade Policy Committee meetings.
I believe, ultimately, that a negotiated settlement is the preferred way to address this current tariff dispute, as a further escalation would not serve the interests of either the EU or USA. I hope that this will be the case, and that we continue to see the benefits of free trade for manufacturers and consumers, both in the USA and in the EU.
