Taoiseach and Cork Chamber president welcome EU-US tariff agreement

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the agreement reached on trade tariffs between the EU and the US will help project Irish jobs.

Mr Martin described the agreement achieved today in Scotland between presidents Ursula von der Leyen and Donald Trump as “very welcome”, saying: “It brings clarity and predictability... That is good for businesses, investors, and consumers. It will help protect many jobs in Ireland.”

“We will now study the detail of what has been agreed, including its implications for businesses exporting from Ireland to the US, and for different sectors operating here.

“The agreement is a framework, and there will be more detail to be fleshed out in the weeks and months ahead.

“It does mean that there will now be higher tariffs than there have been, and this will have an impact on trade between the EU and the US, making it more expensive and more challenging.

“However, it also creates a new era of stability that can hopefully contribute to a growing and deepening relationship.”

Rob Horgan, president of Cork Chamber, told The Echo: “It’s great to see some solid progress finally being made.

“Business of all sizes thrive on certainty. The instability over the last few months has made planning difficult for firms large and small.

“Hopefully, over the coming days, we will get that through the finer details. The political stability and highly educated workforce Ireland provides will continue to make us an attractive location for global firms who choose us as a European location.”