Tánaiste denies US trade imbalance was discussed in call with Marco Rubio

Simon Harris said the trade imbalance was not specifically referenced during the 20-minute conversation with Marco Rubio

Foreign affairs and trade minister Simon Harris said he was the one to raise the issue of trade with Mr Rubio, stressing the importance of the transatlantic trade relationship.

Tánaiste Simon Harris has said the trade imbalance between Ireland and the US was not raised during his conversation with Marco Rubio, despite his US counterpart claiming it was.

In a statement released by the US secretary of state following his phone call with Mr Harris this week, Mr Rubio's spokesperson said: "They discussed the US priority to address the US-Ireland trade imbalance."

However, Mr Harris said the trade imbalance was not specifically referenced during the 20-minute conversation.

When asked why the US administration claimed it had been part of the discussion, Mr Harris said: "The Americans obviously have their perspective in relation to the issue of trade."

The foreign affairs and trade minister said he was the one to raise the issue of trade with Mr Rubio, stressing the importance of the transatlantic trade relationship.

"We discussed 115,000 jobs by Irish companies in the US, we discussed that Ireland is one of the top investors into the US," said Mr Harris.

"I think we have a long way to go in relation to tariffs and we are already seeing significant turbulence arising from tariffs," Mr Harris said.

The trade relationship between the EU and the US is worth €1.4tn a year and, at the end of the day, President Trump is a businessman.

"Why would you jeopardise €1.4tn when the gap, when you look at goods and services, the gap overall is €50bn? You are going to really damage a €1.4tn relationship for a row about €50bn when there is absolutely a way of working forward."

Speaking in Liverpool on Thursday, Mr Harris warned care was needed when approaching the issue of trade with the US.

All Irish representatives travelling to America next week for St Patrick's Day are set to make the point that the bilateral relationship has changed over recent years due to the rise in Irish investment in the US.