Ireland strengthened by EU-US trade deal

A successful trade agreement between the EU and the US can only strengthen Ireland’s economic bonds with the US and boost incoming foreign direct investment here, a former high-ranking American government official has said.

Speaking at a briefing in Dublin yesterday on the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, former US under secretary of commerce, Grant D Aldonas said Ireland can benefit strongly from a trade deal.

Negotiations regarding the proposed Trade and Investment Partnership began last summer and have a conclusion target of the end of this year. If successfully agreed, the partnership would represent the biggest bilateral trade deal ever negotiated, covering more than 40% of global GDP.