The European Union might offer the United States concessions on agriculture in exchange for a trade deal, a former Irish Ambassador to Washington has warned. 

One of Donald Trump’s many complaints is that there are significant restrictions on American farmers who wish to export their products to the EU, due to differing food standards in the United States. 

"They don't take our cars, they don't take our farm products, they take almost nothing and we take everything from them. Millions of cars, tremendous amounts of food and farm products," he said in February. 

As negotiations begin between Brussels and Washington, Dan Mulhall, a former Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, predicted that “some concessions” will have to be made by the European side. 

“They will, I’m sure, have put forward a number of tantalising offers,” he told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“They may not all be welcome to us - they might be in agriculture, for example, which we may not be happy about.” 

U.S President Donald Trump. Credit: Daniel Torok/White House Photo/Alamy Live News. 13th Mar, 2025.

Mr Mulhall described European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič as a “very experienced guy” but said negotiators are in a “very difficult position”. 

“The problem is that, ultimately, even the American negotiators will not know what they can sell to the President,” he said. 

“In normal times, they go into negotiations having a very good idea of the bottom lines, the red lines and so on. 

“But because this administration is so much the personal Administration of Donald Trump [it’s hard to know].” 

First term

Mr Mulhall served as Ireland’s Ambassador to Washington during Mr Trump’s first term and recalled that sometimes he oversaw only minor policy changes - despite his bombastic rhetoric. 

“I do remember at one stage, he started threatening Canada and Mexico because he didn’t like the NAFTA agreement that had been negotiated under the Clinton Administration,” he said. 

“While there were some changes made, I don’t think most people thought it was a fundamental change. 

“Ultimately, he then came out and said, ‘This is the greatest deal ever made’ - and Canada and Mexico played along. 

“I’m hoping that’s what will happen this time around as well.” 

Last year, the EU recorded a trade surplus of close to €200 billion with the US, of which Ireland contributed €72 billion.

Main image: A split of cows and President Donald Trump. Pictures by: Steve Woit/Design Pics via ZUMA Wire and AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein.