President Trump’s behaviour during his trip to Europe last week was described to be "disrespectful" by European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan as he made a speech at the MacGill Summer School event.

He added that this "left those of us who love America gob-smacked - no-one is holding their breath for an improvement in his attitude."

"For the past 30 to 40 years, the EU, the US and the rules-based international community have been like three big ships – a fleet – steering a common course. Now that has changed," he said.

"President Trump is effectively steering the USS United States away from the other two vessels. The problem with turning a huge ship is that it can take a very long time to turn it back."

When discussing President Trump’s "disrespectful behaviour" recently, Commissioner Hogan announced that "no one is holding their breath for an improvement in his attitude. The president thrives on breaking rules and normal standards of good behaviour."

"Everyone, every nation, no matter how great, needs friends and allies."

Commenting on Trump’s detachment further, the Commissioner stated: "How to react is becoming an urgent issue for Brussels. One of our conclusions should be that we must work doubly hard to protect and enhance the international rules-based system, not only in trade, but in all aspects of national behaviour. We must become more conscious of our soft power and use it intelligently.

"The union must be aware that, increasingly, it may find itself standing against, as well as alongside, the new United States. And this will have all sorts of consequences in security, in trade, in a whole host of fields."

The problem with turning a huge ship is that it can take a very long time to turn it back

The theme of Commissioner Hogan’s speech was Beyond Brexit: Ireland in Europe - the future scenario.

The Commissioner spoke at The Highlands Hotel, Glenties, Co Donegal, and his speech addressed matters such as global trade, the EU-US trade war, populism, Brexit and the EU.

Other speakers at the event included former president of the European Parliament Pat Cox, and Patricia Callan, director of the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland and former director of the Small Firms Association.

Phil Hogan addressed the crowd by stating that the last time he spoke at the event his speech was based on the theme We Need Higher Standards of Leadership and Governance. This idea is "equally applicable today", stated the Commissioner, adding that "Ireland needs to be more alert than ever before to dangers" in this "era of populism, polarisation and political poison".

Global trade and the EU-US trade war

When discussing global trade and the EU-US trade war, the Commissioner stated that Ireland has done "arguably" better than any other "western country in harnessing the winds of globalisation and free trade".

Continuing, Commissioner Hogan stated that Ireland has been a "magnet for foreign direct investment" and that Ireland has become an agri-food export "powerhouse". This all combines to highlight how this era of "economic isolation and trade war should have us all on high alert".

"In present circumstances, we have a responsibility to use this increased power honestly and in a balanced way. The EU must chart a course that protects our interests and we must, at the same time, seek to maximise the common good of all trading nations. In the leadership vacuum created by President Trump, we must step up to the plate. We must help to develop a new normal," explained the Commissioner.

Highlighting the benefits of the trade deal, Commissioner Hogan outlined the following:

  • US services exports to the EU are growing by some 9%/year on average.
  • More than 70% of all foreign direct investment into the US comes from the EU.
  • EU-US trade has created 6.9 million jobs in the US.
  • US companies earn more than twice as much exporting goods to the EU as they do exporting to China.
  • Ireland's unique position in EU-US trade relationship

    When discussing Ireland's unique position in the EU-US trade relationship, Commissioner Hogan mentioned that "Ireland must negotiate the middle ground, supporting the EU's counter-offensive actions, while maintaining an open dialogue with US companies headquartered in Dublin".

    "Ireland must also keep a close eye on the USA using Brexit as a lever to destabilise the EU, for example by dangling the carrot of a US-UK trade deal in front of hard Brexiteers as happened earlier this month", explained the Commissioner.

    Populism, Brexit and the EU

    Concluding his speech, Commissioner Phil Hogan rounded up his views on Brexit.

    Brexit, much like Trump's incredible insurgency all the way to the Oval office, was a masterpiece of populism, he said.

    The white paper which was recently published by Theresa May is a "starting point in a process and its value is to be judged on the clarity and the conditions it creates for the discussions to advance".

    A key question over Brexit relates to Ireland’s land border with the UK, announced Commissioner Hogan.

    He continued: "The UK has promised that it must remain invisible, as it is now. Michel Barnier will have to assess whether the arrangements proposed by the UK deliver on this promise."

    "A stumbling block might be that the EU has offered in its backstop a special treatment for Northern Ireland, suggesting that it could remain in the single market with the EU27. This is a considerable departure from the orthodoxy of the single market and is meant for Northern Ireland only. Now the UK wants to generalise it for the whole UK. This demand will create difficulties."

    To conclude proceedings, Commissioner Phil Hogan announced that Ireland is getting on with the task of managing these problems to our east and west.

    Lines of communication to Washington remain open, added the Commissioner, reminding his audience about last week's cabinet meeting which agreed the need for 1,000 new customs and veterinary inspectors to be hired in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

    The speech was followed by an open forum.