Taoiseach’s pitch of new EU-US trade deal well received by president

INTERNATIONAL trade relations was the divisive issue everyone awkwardly danced around during Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s much-anticipated visit to the White House. US President Donald Trump’s proposed steel and aluminium tariffs are bad news for Ireland and the rest of the EU.

Mr Varadkar entered the White House yesterday morning at a time of extremely strained cross-Atlantic relations.

Before his St Patrick’s Day visit, he vowed to represent the views of not only Ireland but also Brussels when he came face to face with Mr Trump.

He has tic-tacked all week with EU Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President JeanClaude Juncker about tactics.

There has been a lot of tough talk from the big-wigs in Brussels about implementing counter import taxes and taking legal action against the US through the World Trade Organisation. But so far it is only talk and dialogue is the EU’s preferred option to finding a resolution. Trump, on the other hand, is insisting the tariffs are essential for national security and protection of US jobs.

After greeting him at the door of the West Wing of the White House, Mr Trump led the Taoiseach to the Oval Office where they exchanged pleasantries and took questions from the media ahead of their formal meeting. He described Mr Varadkar as a “very popular prime minister” and said the relationship between the US and Ireland is “outstanding, and only getting better”.

Mr Trump was happy to take questions about visiting Ire- land, golf and the alleged assassination attempt by Russian agents in the UK. But when the ‘Irish Independent’ asked if he would reconsider his steel tariffs, he just stared and remained silent. The media opportunity finished soon after.

Behind closed doors, Mr Varadkar was joined by his special envoy to the US, Waterford TD John Deasy, and his advisers. Mr Deasy has been working behind the scenes for the last year on a resolution for the thousands of undocumented Irish living in America.

After the meeting, Mr Varad-