Ireland Trade Agreements

Ireland has a positive trade balance with Vietnam, mainly due to the dairy sector. In 2017, Ireland exported €20 million of dairy products, a decrease of €40 million in 2016. In total, exports reached €30 million in 2017, down €55 million compared to 2016, with the decline in dairy products being the main factor in this decline. In its judgment, the Court stated: “The free trade agreement with Singapore cannot be concluded as it stands by the European Union alone. The provisions of the Agreement on Foreign Non-Direct Investment and the provisions on investor-State dispute settlement do not fall within the exclusive competence of the European Union, so that the Agreement cannot be concluded in its present form without the participation of the Member States`. With regard to Indonesia`s notification in February of the Food Category Regulation (OBT/N/N/IDN/101/Add.1) notified by Indonesia to the WTO Investigative Body and which changed the ceiling from 0.1% methanol to 0.01% v/v/v (too low for EU whisky), Irish industry sees this revision as a barrier to trade. and called on the EU to work to restore the 0.1% v/v to ensure that EU whiskies are not excluded from the market. Not only do trade agreements create jobs, but they also stimulate economic growth and consumers benefit from better quality and lower prices. EU trade agreements also contribute to respect for human rights, the fight against climate change and support for developing countries. Ireland has its own trade policy, but trade is the exclusive responsibility of the EU and supports the fundamental principles that Ireland shares with other Member States, such as human rights and sustainable development. The EU is the second largest importer of South Korean products. South Korea is the eighth largest importer of goods from the EU. The agreement is widely regarded as the first of the next generation free trade agreements signed by the EU to address trade issues beyond tariffs.

These concerns include non-tariff barriers (NTBs); they face significant barriers to trade, both in Korea and in the European Union. In fact, it has been estimated that NTBs have the same level of protection as a tariff of 76% in Korea and 46% in the EU. According to some studies, a deal can increase trade by up to 40% in the long run. The EU itself already participates in almost 75 preferential trade agreements with third countries of different vintages. Recent agreements are more comprehensive and include services and investment, including deep and comprehensive trade agreements with some Eastern European countries. They also concern intellectual property, competition law, public procurement, environmental principles and other eu fundamental principles. MERCOSUR: In June 2019, the European Union and Mercosur member countries Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay concluded lengthy negotiations for a pioneering trade agreement. The Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and South Korea is a provisional free trade agreement between the European Union (EU), its Member States and South Korea. The agreement was signed on 15 October 2009. The Agreement has been provisionally applied since 1 July 2011. Most import duties were eliminated in 2011. The others – with the exception of a limited number of agricultural products – were withdrawn after 5 years on 1 July 2016.

Between Ireland and Thailand, the trade balance of Irish agricultural and food exports to Thailand amounted to €23 million in 2017, compared to €54 million for Thai imports. The bulk of our exports (€15.m) come from the dairy sector, which increased by €8..8m compared to 2016. The European Commission is working to help traders seize the great opportunities offered by trade agreements by providing clear information on instruments such as the EU Market Access Database and Trade Helpdesk. In principle, a protocol could allow for continued participation in or compliance with the agreement, where by which the UK will become a third party with the EU (and, where appropriate, with EU Member States and the third country. . . .