Irish MEP says counter-tariffs should 'avoid EU shooting itself in the foot' in letter to commissioner

James Cox

Irish MEP Barry Cowen has written to the EU trade commissioner to request the protection of three Irish industries from planned counter-tariffs against the US.

The EU is still hoping to make a deal with US president Donald Trump's administration, but a second counter-tariff list is due to take effect on July 14th or earlier if negotiations fail.

In the letter to EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, seen by BreakingNews.ie, Mr Cowen requested additional protections for spirits, medical technologies and aviation.

Mr Cowen first outlines his belief that US bourbon whiskey should be excluded form counter-tariffs, as "this risks triggering US retaliatory tariffs - potentially up to 200 per cent - on EU alcohol exports".

He  adds that Ireland exports 53 times more whiskey than it importants bourbon - €420 million vs €8 million.

At the EU level, spirits exports to the US are €2.9 billion annually, while imports stand at €1 billion. With this in mind, Mr Cowen argues that a “zero-for-zero tariff arrangement on spirits is vital to protect this key sector and avoid a situation of the EU shooting itself in the foot. I urge the Commission to reaffirm this in its updated list".

Mr Cowen goes on to write that he is "increasingly alarmed at the prospect of tariffs on US-origin medical technologies, components and diagnostics. The current draft includes 577 categories, covering both medtech inputs and finished products. Its implementation would significantly disrupt healthcare systems and the medtech industry across the EU, including Ireland".

Ireland’s medtech sector employs over 50,000 people and exports €15 billion annually, representing 8 per cent of our total exports.

He asks the EU Commission not to include medical technologies in the final counter-tariffs list, "as industry groups have warned, these products are vital to public health and should not be used as leverage in trade disputes".

On aviation, Mr Cowen writes: " I would like to highlight the risk to Ireland’s aviation and leasing sectors should US aircraft remain on the EU’s retaliation list. Alongside Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline group, Ireland is home to global aircraft lessors such as AerCap, all heavily reliant on US-made aircraft.

"Ryanair operates over 600 Boeing aircraft and it, plus Aercap, have hundreds of more on order. Including these in a tariff regime would severely impact Ireland’s leasing and airline industries, with wider implications for the European market. I strongly urge the Commission to exclude US aircraft from the list."

In conclusion, Mr Cowen calls for measures that are "measured, strategic and [do] not harm sectors where the EU - and Ireland - stand to lose far more than we gain".