The EU’s new trade agreement with the United States is “not a great deal” for Irish business, the Irish Exporters Association has said. 

Yesterday, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen flew to Scotland to meet Donald Trump, where the US President was on holiday playing golf. 

The pair announced a trade deal that will see most EU imports into the United States pay a tariff of 15% - lower than the 30% Mr Trump previously threatened. 

On Lunchtime Live, Irish Exporters Association CEO Simon McKeever said there is now a “level of certainty” for Irish businesses. 

However, he added that overall it is “not a great deal” for Europe. 

“The EU has been hampered by its dependence on the United States for security,” he said. 

“Particuarly with the war in Ukraine going on as well. 

“So, we’ve been negotiating with one hand, perhaps both hands, tied behind our backs.” 

Together, the EU and the US are a market of 800 million people.

And nearly 44 percent of global GDP.

It’s the biggest trade deal ever ↓ https://t.co/rG3cHebXEk

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 27, 2025

Mr McKeever added that the problem is because the US market is so large and profitable, most medium or Irish companies have got used to selling into it. 

“Dealing with the United States has become very similar to dealing with the United Kingdom,” he said. 

“There has become this degree of familiarity and we were doing an awful lot of business there.

“And to replace any business displacement over there will take some time.”

Main image: US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Picture by: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin.