Kildare based Minister in week-long US trade mission

Fine Gael Kildare South TD and Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, Martin Heydon, is this week completing a week long trade mission to the United Sates for a series of meetings to discuss recent tariff announcements and trade arrangements between Ireland and the US.

Speaking before his departure Minister Heydon said: “This trip is a good opportunity for me to put forward our views and that of the EU on the recent announcements and to highlight the high level of trade between our two countries.

“I will be meeting with a number of Irish companies who are prominent and active in the US market, bringing our high quality Irish products, many in the food and drink sector to a wider American market.”

As part of the trip, Minister Heydon will spend two days in Washington with a number of political meetings on Capitol Hill including one with Secretary for Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, his US counterpart.

He will also meet a number of members of congress and the senate, as well as the chairs of both houses agriculture committees.

The Minister added: “I will then fly to Kentucky for meetings with Irish and American companies whom we trade with. That will also be an opportunity to engage with local representatives who are involved in the very successful twinning between Kildare and Lexington.

“Finally I will travel to Chicago for further meetings with Irish companies trading in the US before travelling home next weekend.

He concluded: “I am proud to represent Kildare and Ireland on the world stage at this important time and to highlight the positive trade relationship and quality products that we bring to the US market.”

READ NEXT: Thieves use hidden device to steal cash at ATMs in Kildare