Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 November 2016
218. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the impact the election of President Elect, Donald Trump will have on the farming sector here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35322/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is unclear at this early stage following the US election what impact the election result will have on the farming sector in Ireland. Any impact that may arise is likely to be in the area of trade in agricultural products. We do not yet know what the new administration's approach will be in this area, for example in terms of whether its overall attitude is likely to be more protectionist in nature, or whether it will take a different approach than heretofore in negotiating free trade agreements.
In the latter case, the EU has been negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the US for quite some time. It appears that these negotiations have essentially entered a period of pause until after the new administration has settled into office. We will have to wait and see what the administration's approach will be, but I would be hopeful that the negotiations can recommence in 2017.
