Ireland’s hope that a trade agreement with the US will open up a lucrative public procurement market in exchange for some concessions on beef may be difficult to achieve, a US expert has warned.

A lobby group of the country’s leading employers has urged a ‘yes’ vote for the Lisbon Reform Treaty to secure huge investment from US companies for Ireland.

A REJECTION of the EU Reform Treaty could scare US boardrooms that have put €52 billion worth of investment into Ireland, employers have said.

President George Bush has told Nato members he wants to expand the alliance to include three Balkan countries and put Ukraine and Georgia on track for membership.