From:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, today (21 July) held a call with the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Ambassador Jamieson Greer.

The call with USTR follows Minister McEntee’s appearance before the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee last week to take questions from Members of the European Parliament on her trade policy objectives for the Presidency.

The phone call was held in advance of expected US announcements on tariffs later this week, with existing US section 122 tariffs due to expire on Friday.

The call was an opportunity for the Minister, as President of the Council of Trade Ministers, to discuss with USTR Greer the EU-US trade and investment relationship – the largest and most integrated in the world and valued at €1.77 trillion in 2025, and how under the Irish Presidency she intends to work with the US and EU partners on the on-going implementation of the Turnberry deal, and to stress the need for both sides to stick to the terms of that agreement.

Speaking after the call, Minister McEntee said: “My focus on Ireland’s EU Presidency priorities continued with a positive and constructive call with United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Greer. We discussed the challenges and opportunities in international trade and I outlined my ambitions for the EU-US trade and investment cooperation. I reiterated my strong support for a positive, forward looking relationship between partners based on shared values and common goals. As the US is finalising its approach to replacing the temporary tariffs in place since February, it is an important moment to speak with Ambassador Greer.”

The Minister continued: “The EU has now implemented its tariff commitments agreed in the deal made by Presidents von der Leyen and Trump in Turnberry in Scotland last July. We must continue to work together to fully implement that deal and to ensure that no EU export faces tariffs higher than the 15% ceiling agreed or the MFN rate. The EU is also keen to consider areas for further exemptions for key products and sectors, where it is mutually beneficial to do so.

“Opportunities remain for cooperation on shared challenges in this turbulent international environment. I look forward to maintaining contact with Ambassador Greer in the period ahead.”

The call took place three weeks into Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and following the visit of the College of Commissioners to Cork, where the Minister discussed EU and Irish trade priorities with Commissioner Sefcovic. As part of Ireland’s EU Presidency, Minister McEntee will chair the meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council on Trade including an Informal meeting of the Council will meet in Dublin on 22-23 October.