Kelly’s call to step up US tariff talks

KERRY based MEP for Ireland South Sean Kelly, has called on incoming European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and new EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan to urgently intensify dialogue with their US counterparts to prevent the imminent imposition of tariffs on key Irish agrifood.

Mr Kelly was speaking following the publication of a decision by the World Trade Organisation regarding illegal subsidies paid to European aerospace company, Airbus, authorising President Trump to impose nearly $7.5 billion in annual punitive levies to repair the damage done to Boeing by illegal EU aid to airbus.

A similar decision on illegal subsidies given to Boeing by the US is expected early next year.

“The current stand-off between the EU and US is in nobodies interest, and things will only get worse now that the door has been opened to President Trump’s tariffs. Citizens and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic are set to be the losers in this unfortunate situation,” said Mr Kelly.

“The imposition of tariffs will immediately make key Irish exports less competitive in the US market, with dairy products and Irish whiskey in particular set to be heavily impacted. The timing couldn’t be worse with the threat of a no-deal Brexit continuing to loom over our industries,” he said.

“I am calling on our incoming Ursula von der Leyen and Phil Hogan to immediately increase their engagement with President Trump and US trade officials to try to come to an amicable solution.

“With the Boeing decision set to fall in the EU’s favour next year, the imposition of tariffs by Trump will only kick-off a period of ongoing retaliation at a time when we should be seeking to enhance cooperation”