(Seo alt ónár bhfoireann nua Gaeltachta. Is féidir an bunleagan as Gaeilge a léamh anseo.)

IRELAND WILL BE A “pragmatic voice” for a trade deal between China and the European Union, Taoiseach Mícheál Martin said today during an official visit to the country. 

The Taoiseach was speaking to RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta political editor Cuan Ó Seireadáin after meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday.

The Taoiseach said in the interview broadcast on Adhmhaidin earlier today that Ireland was in favour of ‘open trade’.

During the second day of his visit the Taoiseach will meet Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang and the Chairman of the National People’s Congress, Zhao Leji.

“That has been our attitude for a long time now but it is clear that there are difficulties at the moment between the European Union and ourselves as a member of the Union, and China,” he said.

There has been a degree of tension in terms of trade between the European Union and China because the Union has imposed a 45% duty on electric vehicles from China due to subsidies that motor companies receive in that country.

On the other hand, China is demanding duties of 42.7% on dairy products from the EU, a duty that falls heavily on this country, after they started an investigation in August 2024 into subsidies that EU member states give to farmers.

“There is no doubt that the [European] Commission, in particular, will be making efforts to improve the trade situation and we will be a pragmatic voice in that,” said the Taoiseach.

“We have to take everything into account and as I said we all want a comprehensive deal between Europe and China.”

Referring to the meeting with the Chinese president, the Taoiseach said it was friendly and beneficial.

“We both have a strong commitment to furthering the Ireland-China relationship into the future.”

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In his statement, President Xi said that China-Ireland ties needed to develop steadily and sustainably and that China hoped to strengthen strategic communication with Ireland and enhance political trust between the two sides.

The Taoiseach will travel from Beijing to Shanghai, where he will meet with the city’s mayor, Gong Zheng, and hold meetings with Irish and Chinese business leaders.

China is Ireland’s largest trading partner in Asia and its fifth-largest trading partner in the world.

The Journal’s Gaeltacht initiative is supported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme