THE Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, says detailed negotiations surrounding the movement of horses between Ireland and America need to commence following US President Donald Trump’s introduction of tariffs on goods, including horses, imported from the European Union.

On Wednesday, Trump said his administration would temporarily suspend the 20% tariff for 90 days to allow time for US officials to negotiate with countries that have sought to reduce them. However, a 10% duty remains in place.

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture confirmed horses are subject to the tariff. “The 10% tariff applies to all agri-food and live animal exports from the EU. This 10% tariff is additional to any existing tariffs which may already apply.”

Minister Heydon, speaking to The Irish Field during his trade mission to the USA, said the purpose of his visit to America was to encourage the US administration to sit down with EU negotiators and work through the detail. “The specifics of the trade in relation to the thoroughbred breeding industry and movement of horses is the exact level of detail that we have to get down to in negotiations.

“That level of detail of the importance that trade for America and for Ireland in terms of horses has to be understood. Detailed negotiations need to commence now and will continue from here.”

The Minister visited Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky this week and said the visit gave him a chance to see the importance of the two-way trading relationship between Ireland and the US and the positive impact it is having in the equine sector.