THE TAOISEACH HAS said he remains “hopeful” that the EU can reach a deal with the US on tariffs.

Micheál Martin said both sides continue to negotiate the “fine detail” of future arrangements.

It comes before a looming Wednesday deadline to make a new deal with the Trump administration, which is piling pressure on trading partners by threatening dramatically increased tariffs from the existing 10% rate.

Speaking to the media after a phone call with the European Commission President, Martin said Ursula von der Leyen outlined to him the “most up-to-date situation”.

“We remain hopeful that the US and the European Union can agree an outline agreement or framework principle agreement this week,” Martin said. 

“There’s still a number of issues to be negotiated, nothing has been rejected, definitively.

He said it illustrates that “even if a framework agreement is arrived at, there would be a lot of negotiations subsequently.”

“Whilst it would create some degree of clarity in terms of where we are in the short term, there would still be a number of issues outstanding in respect of that trade issue between the European Union and the United States and indeed between other countries.”

Related Reads

Trump to start informing countries of US tariff rates as EU yet to reach deal

'We need an agreement': Tánaiste Harris calls on EU to reach tariff deal with US

Martin said he supported the Commission’s position that an agreement should be reached to provide certainty to consumers, businesses and industry.

Asked if he expected a 10% baseline tariff to remain in place, the Taoiseach said: “There are certain realities that probably will emerge from this that will have impact – and are having impact – on a number of sectors.

“But at least it gives us some sense of the landscape that we have to deal with.”