EU-US trade talks at crucial stage as Harris urges calm but strong European stance

Tánaiste says a measured EU approach is key as 90-day tariff pause window offers vital chance for progress

Tanaiste Simon Harris speaks to media outside Government Buildings, Dublin. Picture: Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire

The weekend ahead will be “vital” for intensive negotiations between the EU and US to avoid a trade war, Tánaiste Simon Harris has said.

Mr Harris has called for the EU to maintain a measured approach, but stated that the bloc must come to the negotiating table with the US from a position of strength.

“I think this is a vital weekend and I think there isn’t an hour to lose, because we have a 90-day pause, but 90 days can come and go quickly,” Mr Harris said.

“It’s really important that there’s very intensive engagement now between Europe and the United States.”

European Trade Commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, will travel this weekend to Washington for direct talks with the US administration.

It comes as EU finance ministers are meeting in Warsaw, with Paschal Donohoe calling for a “unified stance” to be taken by the bloc.

Mr Harris said the pause in the higher 20% rate of tariffs on EU goods was essential, but that it is “far from ideal” due to a baseline 10% tariff remaining in place, as well as levies on steel, aluminium and cars.

He also flagged the escalatory tit-for-tat between the US and China as a cause for concern.

“It is really important now that we actually use this pause and put it to good use, put it to work for the people right across this country, right across Europe, and I reckon right across America, saying, ‘Will ye ever get on with it now?’” Mr Harris described the EU approach to US tariffs as calm and measured.

“What you don’t want to do is anything escalatory, and what you don’t want to do is have any disunity across Europe,” he added.

Earlier on Friday, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the EU could opt to place levies on the advertising revenue of US tech giants if negotiations failed.

Asked about these comments in the Financial Times, Mr Harris said that Ms von der Leyen was “rightly outlining all of the various tools and options” available to the EU.

“I think that’s very different from utilising all of them,” he added.

Mr Harris said, through his engagement with EU foreign ministers, there is a move towards de-escalation in Brussels.

“There are lots of tools available at our disposal. Ireland doesn’t want to go there, that is true,” Mr Harris said, referring to tech levies.

“Europe actually didn’t respond in anger or seek to escalate. It analysed, it worked together, it engaged across member states and has responded proportionately,” Mr Harris said.

“I think that is the continued tone you are going to see.”