Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Virginia Mayo

Phil Hogan is planning a trip to Washington to convince Donald Trump to work with the EU

Hogan told RTÉ in recent weeks that he aimed “to get Mr Trump to see the error of his ways” on trade.

TRADE COMMISSIONER-DESIGNATE Phil Hogan is to travel to the US as part of efforts to build on EU-US trade relations and to reform the World Trade Organisation.

It is understood that the trip will take place between now and the end of the year, and that the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will also be part of the delegation.

The European Union is also pushing to reform WTO rules in order to have a more robust appeals process for breach of basic trading rules – but the US has been so far reluctant to engage on whether it wants to do so.

Hogan was recently criticised by the US ambassador to the EU for saying that he would aim “to get Mr Trump to see the error of his ways” on trade.

Outgoing Agriculture Commissioner, Hogan, has not yet been officially approved as the EU’s next Trade Commissioner – so far, he has been given the green light by the legal affairs committee, with the trade committee also voting to allow his progression continue. 

The next step is for the Conference of Presidents to decide on 17 October if Parliament has received sufficient information to declare the hearing process closed. If so, the plenary will vote on whether or not to elect the Commission as a whole on 23 October.

The US is one of three regions that the EU trades with based on WTO rules (the other two being China and Russia); trade between the EU and the US is worth $3 billion a day.

In Hogan’s statements to the trade committee on Monday evening, he repeatedly referred to the fact that the EU doesn’t have an open dialogue with the US, whereas they have a relationship with the China, albeit one that’s “not going very far at the moment”.

Hogan said to MEPs last night that the EU wants to deepen trading relationships with the US, but “it takes two to tango”:

“We have a [trade] engagement with China, we do not have an engagement with the United States currently, and I hope that we will.” 

Hogan told MEPs that he will visit China this Saturday 5 October, which will be his first visit as Commissioner to a country outside of the EU.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
30 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cashel Woods
    Favourite Cashel Woods
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 6:44 AM

    He is the architect of the water charges fiasco and when he completely messed that up, Fine Gael leadership sent him to Europe. Now he is been given a commissioner role with the EU, it will end in tears!

    237
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronan McDermott
    Favourite Ronan McDermott
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 6:29 AM

    Pity he couldn’t see the errors in his own ways. The clown.

    260
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek hutchings
    Favourite Derek hutchings
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 6:43 AM

    And Trump is going to listen to him

    144
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bridget O'Hanlon
    Favourite Bridget O'Hanlon
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 6:46 AM

    @Derek hutchings: He is, yeah

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Barrett
    Favourite Dave Barrett
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 7:33 AM

    @Derek hutchings: eh! Yeah he is a good guy. We had a great conversation we are good friends. We can do a deal. You can just hear it all.

    43
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JusticeForJoe
    Favourite JusticeForJoe
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 5:13 PM

    @Dave Barrett: I can almost hear it now “Bill Hoban and I had a… excuse me? Phil? Really? Maybe he changed it since our conversation because I told him, I said ‘Phil is a great name. It sounds like your name but it’s very cleverly spelt like the short version of a name we give our beautiful state of Philadelphia. Really great state. Great people. Well, the white ones I mean I don’t know about the other areas I only know what I’m told but I don’t listen because it’s fake news, but yeah, Bill Cosby and I had a really great, a really great conversation and I think we’re gonna do great business”

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute shay o'brien
    Favourite shay o'brien
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 6:44 AM

    Sure doesn’t he deserve an all expenses paid holiday in the states just like Leo and co. 5 star all the way with the company credit card. it’s a great little country that can stick it.

    112
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute et
    Favourite et
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 7:19 AM

    “To get Mr Trump to see the errors of his ways” What a pathetic statement, someone needs to point out the many errors of Mr Hogan’s ways in this Country.

    138
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Donal McGrath
    Favourite Donal McGrath
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 7:36 AM

    Good old Big Phil. I’ll bet he’s flying economy to Washington, staying in a Holiday Inn and bringing his own sandwiches (and water). What value for money we get from selfless public representatives like him. We should be so grateful to have him working for our interests.

    84
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David A. Murray
    Favourite David A. Murray
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 6:48 AM

    I’d love to see the transcript of their meeting. For once I almost feel sympathy for both Trump having to meet Hogan and Hogan having to meet Trump.

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Heery
    Favourite Gerard Heery
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 6:48 AM

    They’ll make some pair of negotiators ,fake news and trickle

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Willy Mc Bride
    Favourite Willy Mc Bride
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 7:51 AM

    Hey Phil, Tell Don the EU will turn down trade to a trickle shall the US not play ball. They’ll see the errors of their way..
    Clown…

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jonny
    Favourite Jonny
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 8:21 AM

    How embarrassing someone like this who forced austerity and water charges onto people a representative of Ireland going to the USA, we haven’t forgotten Hogan..

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Early Cuyler
    Favourite Early Cuyler
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 8:07 AM

    The EU is Tower of Babel which isolates people power. While every Phil Hogan on the continent gets to have a go.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Madra
    Favourite Madra
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 7:48 AM

    Trump doesn’t even deserve that punishment lol

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Harris
    Favourite Dave Harris
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 7:36 AM

    I dunno, Big Phil might be just the sort of boofhead Trump might listen to. Trump doesn’t seem to cope well with the normal diplomat types

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Leo Lalor
    Favourite Leo Lalor
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 8:10 AM

    Don’t let this fool within 100 miles of any issue .

    64
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Al Fresco
    Favourite Al Fresco
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 10:18 AM

    What a great little country we are at sorting out other peoples problems, remember not so long ago Shane Ross and some of his buddies were going to go to North Korea to talk some “ sense” into the people here. And now Phil Hogan is going to sort out Trump?
    The same way he sorted out Irish Water maybe? He was promoted to a big job in Europe because he was an embarrassment to the Government here, wouldn’t you think he would keep his head down and his mouth shut while the big paychecks are coming in?

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shakka1244
    Favourite Shakka1244
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 9:57 AM

    An unstoppable ego meets an immovable ego. Not sure who is who though.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute J. Reid
    Favourite J. Reid
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 9:14 AM

    The goal of improving EU trade relationships with the US is, of course, a wise one. However, it is a very bad start, on the part of Phil Hogan, by condescendingly stating that he wants to get the President of the United States “to see the error of his ways” on trade. Apart from being arrogant, this utterance by Hogan is also disrespectful because it fails to show an understanding of what Donald Trump is trying to do in regard to America’s need to reform its trading relationships with the rest of the world.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Charles McCarthy
    Favourite Charles McCarthy
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 9:48 AM

    I believe he has a healthy appetite for all things spud related.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eddie O'Neill
    Favourite Eddie O'Neill
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 11:19 AM

    Someone wants to go shopping in NY?

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dan Jacobson
    Favourite Dan Jacobson
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 9:49 AM

    Why is there no mention in the article of the regulatory war the EU has been waging against the US and the EU’s hypocrisy exposed in the environmental emissions scandals of its primary automotive industry? I trust Herr Hogan gets the response both he and the EU deserve. This quisling is the ideal man for the job.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Mc Carthy
    Favourite Mary Mc Carthy
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 8:40 AM

    Waste of time and money !
    Anyway even Americans are fed up with him . He won’t be in power much longer

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute LARRY SNEEG
    Favourite LARRY SNEEG
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 11:53 AM

    Neck of him , LOL

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Walsh
    Favourite Dave Walsh
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 8:49 AM

    It takes a special type of stupid to vote for people like hogan and trump,,, you know who you are….

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute stephen darling
    Favourite stephen darling
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 7:02 PM

    Take Phil off to Guantanamo for a water boarding session and charge him by the pint

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Charles McCarthy
    Favourite Charles McCarthy
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 2:58 PM

    I believe he has a ferocious appetite for all things spud related.
    Oul spuds, new spuds, boiled spuds, mashed, bashed, mangled, you name he loves em all.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noel McGuinness
    Favourite Noel McGuinness
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 10:17 PM

    what about climate change how many flights this year pilo the world is ending ask leo

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marie Broomfield
    Favourite Marie Broomfield
    Report
    Oct 2nd 2019, 10:22 AM

    is this like an interview test? If he bags the big fish he gets the job?

    4
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Next upNext up:
      News in 60 seconds