Donald Trump 'wants trade deal with EU' – Simon Harris

Tánaiste says the 'mood music' is somewhat better amid 'real and meaningful' US-EU trade negotiations

Simon Harris made his comments about US president Donald Trump wanting to reach a trade deal after a call with US trade representative Jamieson Greer. 

US president Donald Trump wants to reach a trade deal with the EU, Tánaiste Simon Harris has said.

Mr Harris said there are now “real and meaningful” trade talks underway between the EU and US, after a call with US trade representative Jamieson Greer.

While Mr Harris said the talks are now moving in a more positive direction, he believed there is still a “way to go” before a deal is reached between the EU and US on trade.

I think it’s fair to say there is a way to go in relation to this, but I am encouraged by the fact that engagement has now begun in earnest between the EU and the United States.

"I know from an EU perspective and from an Irish perspective, we want a negotiated outcome. From my conversation with president Trump’s trade representative today, I think he wants that as well."

“What we need to find out in the days ahead, is there a landing zone that can work for everyone. Quite frankly, there has to be, because this transatlantic relationship matters.” 

Mr Harris acknowledged the deadline would run out next month, adding it was important for negotiators to “intensely engage” and there “isn’t a day to lose here”. He added: 

I do now think the mood music, in terms of trying to find a deal, trying to find an agreement, is somewhat better than it was days ago.

“This will require the US and the EU to be really willing now to work to try find some common ground.” 

Mr Harris said the trading relationship between the EU and US was worth more than €1.4 trillion and this should not be “snuffed at”.

In an Irish readout of the call between Mr Harris and Mr Greer, the two had a “constructive exchange of views” on the ongoing negotiations.

Mr Greer recently met with EU Commissioner for trade, Maros Sefcovic, while Mr Harris travelled to Washington DC in recent months to meet with US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick.

The ongoing negotiations come weeks after Mr Trump threatened to introduce a 50% tariff on all imports from the EU, after saying the talks between the two were “going nowhere”.

It led to a flurry of activity, with EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen calling Mr Trump, before the US president opted to delay their introduction to allow for “serious negotiations”.

The deadline for negotiations to be completed are now July 9.