Tánaiste Concludes Washington Visit With Discussions On Global Economy, Trade Issues, Tax Policy And Immigration

The Tánaiste met with the US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, the US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. She also met with Mr. Michael Froman, Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs.

The Tánaiste said that her meetings with Secretary Geithner and other key members of the Administration's economic team offered "a very valuable opportunity to exchange views on the global economic situation and the positive steps being taken in both our countries in the face of a world-wide recession". In addition to wider bi-lateral trade issues and the Doha round of the World Trade Talks, her meeting with Ambassador Kirk also addressed specific issues on beef access and tariffs.

The Tánaiste also briefed Labor Secretary Hilda Solis on the corrective action to underpin Ireland's competitiveness in the global market.

During discussions today on trade-related matters with House Ways and Means Committee members, Congrasman Richard Neal (D-Mass), Congressman John Larson (D-Conn), Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) and Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), the Tánaiste said she underlined "the importance of ensuring that protectionist measures are not put in place that would hinder global economic recovery."

The Tánaiste used her meetings both with the Administration and Congress to address the on-going debate in the US on potential changes to US international tax policy, stressing the strong and mutually-beneficial economic partnership that the current framework has fostered between Ireland, the US and US multinationals competing in Europe and globally.

While in Washington, the Tánaiste also met with representatives of Enterprise Ireland companies, addressed the US Chamber of Commerce and met with the US Council on Competitiveness.

During her meetings with Secretary Solis and Senator John McCain, the Tánaiste emphasised the need for progress on immigration reform, the undocumented and pressed the case for developing bi-lateral visa arrangements between the two countries.

The Tánaiste said: "It is important to maintain the human bridge between Ireland and the United States. Both our countries have greatly benefited from these links" adding that "a new bi-lateral arrangement along the lines of the E-3 with Australia between our two countries would help underpin the bonds between our two countries."

The Tánaiste's Washington stop came at the end of a week long trade and foreign direct investment mission to the United States.