Post by : Meena Ariff

Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheál Martin is set to hold more detailed discussions on trade with China’s second-highest official on Tuesday, as Ireland seeks to deepen strategic and economic ties with the world’s second-largest economy amid strained relations between China and the European Union.

Martin’s scheduled meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang is part of his five-day official visit to China, which he has described as having a strong economic focus. The talks follow his meeting with President Xi Jinping a day earlier.

Speaking to the media, Martin said he would discuss trade issues in greater depth, including Irish beef exports to China and the tariffs recently imposed on dairy products. He added that President Xi had agreed to engage Chinese officials on these specific concerns raised by Ireland.

The Irish leader described his meeting with Xi as warm and constructive, covering a wide range of topics such as bilateral relations and broader EU-China ties.

On a wider level, Martin said President Xi expressed interest in developing a long-term framework to guide future trade relations between Europe and China. Xi reportedly emphasized the importance of keeping the long-term picture in mind when addressing trade challenges.

China–EU relations have remained tense since the European Union imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports in 2024. China later responded with several countermeasures, including new tariffs on European dairy products.

More recently, China introduced import quotas and additional tariffs on beef imports starting this year, affecting global exporters, including Ireland.

Martin, the first Irish prime minister to visit China since 2012, has also taken a balanced approach toward relations with Beijing. He has downplayed recent assessments by Ireland’s intelligence agency labeling China a hostile actor, instead emphasizing the importance of long-term strategic engagement.

#Global News