Tánaiste Simon Harris was in Washington D.C. this week for a series of talks with political and business leaders, Republicans and Democratic members of the House and Senate and, crucially, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Mr. Harris was representing Ireland. But he was also, in effect, an emissary for the European Union.
The visit was not necessarily intended to be low key, but given the events that swirled around it the result was pretty much that.
Harris is Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in addition to being deputy prime minister.
A statement from the Department of Foreign said that Harris was in Washington to hold "several meetings on Capitol Hill to discuss economic, trade and foreign policy priorities."
The statement continued: "He will also meet with Secretary Lutnick to discuss trade and investment relations, as well as the mutually beneficial US-Ireland economic relationship, which supports over 400,000 jobs on both sides of the Atlantic."
Mr. Harris said: “We are here to keep the lines of communications open with US political and business leaders as well as share insights and engage. During the visit I will be emphasising our desire to find a negotiated solution between the EU and US on tariffs.
“I will make the point that the European Union is ready right now to negotiate. We have a team on standby to travel to D.C. to begin negotiations between the EU and the US to find a way forward.
“In a complex and unpredictable global economic environment, direct bilateral engagement with the United States is one of my priorities. A particular focus of discussions will be the transatlantic economic and trade relationship between Ireland, the EU and the United States.
"I hope the trip will provide for an opportunity to gain further insight into the administration’s thinking on their next steps.”
The DFA statement added: "In addition to Ireland and the US’s trade and economic relationship, which is crucial to prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic, the Tánaiste’s discussions will focus on foreign policy issues, including the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East. This is also a crucial time to update US counterparts on the situation in Northern Ireland, including discussions with the British government on Legacy issues and on ending paramilitarism."
The Tánaiste concluded: “US support has been so significant over many decades in underpinning peace and reconciliation on this island, and remains essential.”
As he spoke the expected imposition of 20 percent tariffs by the U.S. on the EU, against ten percent on the UK including Northern Ireland, was raising questions about negative effects on the Windsor Framework agreement (See this week's print/digital edition of the Echo).
Those questions remain even after President Trump postponed, for 90 days, a range of tariffs including the 20 percent ones directed at the EU. In turn, the EU has postponed a range of retaliatory tariffs, also for 90 days.
Nevertheless, uncertainty lingers. There remains a ten percent U.S. tariff imposed on the EU in addition to a 25 percent rate directed at EU car, steel and aluminum. And a ninety day reprieve does not allow much room for long term comfort.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin welcomed the EU pause but said that Ireland was "far from out of the woods yet" when it comes to tariffs.
Martin said he anticipates Europe will respond positively to Mr. Trump's announcement and attempt to negotiate a package that will lessen any potential blow to trade.
Speaking to RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, the Taoiseach said the objective was to engineer a package that would give Europe a safer, more sustained landing zone in terms of trade and economic relationship.
However, he stressed that the EU and US were "still a long way from that."
After his meeting with Howard Lutnick, meanwhile, Simon Harris briefed EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič on what transpired during his U.S. visit.
The name of Maroš Šefčovič is familiar to all who followed the post-Brexit negotiations between Ireland, the EU and the British government with regard to the status of Northern Ireland.
Harris, according to RTE, said it has been his "consistent position", and that of the Irish Government and the European Union, that "substantive, calm, measured dialogue" with the US is needed.
"It has always been our preference that would have happened before tariff announcements. Clearly that was not the position of the United States," he said.
"However, after my discussions yesterday, it is now clear to me that such engagement and negotiation is likely.
"I believe it needs to have in a timely fashion. All sides need to engage in good faith because uncertainly and turmoil is not the way forward.
"The trading relationship between the EU and the US is worth €1.6 trillion per year. It's massively important in terms of jobs, growth and investment in Ireland, across the European Union and in America."
