Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023
217. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the Trade Policy Committee and the Foreign Affairs Council on Trade will next meet; what Ireland's key priorities are for those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53578/23]
View answerThe Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) met on 27th November where EU Trade Ministers discussed preparations for the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference meeting in February, 2024 as well as the conclusion of the modernisation of the EU-Chile Association Agreement and EU-US trade relations. The Council is set to hold an informal meeting of Ministers in Brussels, under the incoming Belgian EU Presidency, on 22nd January 2024. While an agenda for that meeting is yet to be decided, it is understood that preparations for the WTO Ministerial Conference in February 2024 will continue be a significant focus of discussions.
The Trade Policy Committee meeting of officials next meets on December 7th and will discuss the third annual report of the Chief Trade Enforcement Officer, specifically on market access and sustainability commitments. Other topics scheduled for discussion are EU-US trade relations as well as updates regarding the EU-India discussions and EU-Mercosur agreement.
The Trade Policy Committee is constituted under Article 207(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. The committee is responsible for advising and assisting the European Commission in negotiating agreements on behalf of the EU with third countries on matters concerning the common commercial policy, in which the EU holds exclusive competence.
In terms of Ireland's key trade priorities, achieving meaningful reform of the WTO is paramount. In addition, Ireland advocates progressing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, in order to expand Ireland's and the EU's export markets and strengthen the resilience of international supply chains.
