Minister Byrne to attend EU Foreign Affairs Council on Trade
- Published on: 14 July 2025
- Last updated on: 14 July 2025
Today (14 July), the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne, will take part in a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on Trade in Brussels.
The meeting comes at a critical juncture in EU-US trade talks. Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maroš Šefčovič, will update Ministers on the state of play in the negotiations following last week’s extension of the deadline for the pause on the higher rate of US tariffs to 1 August.
Speaking before the meeting Minister Byrne said:
“We want to see a deal between the EU and the US agreed as soon as possible, including if possible, in advance of the 1 August deadline. The Irish Government strongly supports the efforts of Trade Commissioner Šefčovič. We remain cautiously optimistic about reaching agreement in principle on a Framework Agreement in the coming days.”
Other items on the agenda include a discussion on ongoing bilateral trade negotiations and EU-China trade relations:
Minister Byrne said:
“Now, more than ever, we need to expand our trade and diversify our markets. An ambitious trade agenda, with new partners around the globe, is in our overall interests. But in pursuing this agenda, we must maintain EU standards on food safety, animal and plant health, as well as remain faithful to our European values of supporting better environmental and human rights standards around the world.”
ENDS
Press Office
14 July 2025