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US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has ruled out going below a 10% baseline rate for the so-called reciprocal tariffs that cover most goods the EU exports to the US

EU increasingly resigned to 10% baseline tariff - sources

European officials are increasingly resigned to a 10% rate on "reciprocal" tariffs being the baseline in any trade deal between the US and the European Union, five sources familiar with the negotiations said.

Business • 19 Jun

Smoke billows over the building housing Iran's state media, which was hit in an Israeli strike

EU activates mechanism over evacuations from Middle East

The EU has activated its civil defence mechanism in order to help member states evacuate citizens from the Middle East, as the Israel-Iran war enters its fifth day.

Europe • 17 Jun

The twists and turns in US President Donald Trump's tariff policies have rattled global financial markets

Trump trade war - tariff deadlines & key upcoming events

The twists and turns in US President Donald Trump's tariff policies have not only rattled global financial markets but have also taken investors on a roller-coaster ride.

Business • 11 Jun

Wind turbines are seen near Miechow in Poland - one of the countries which has not submitted its energy and climate plans

EU says 'well on track' to reach 2030 climate targets

The European Union said it is on track to reach its 2030 climate targets, but uncertainty remains over the bloc's ambitions to cut greenhouse gas emissions much further by 2040.

Climate Change • 28 May

Shein has grown rapidly by shipping inexpensive products directly to consumers

EU warns Shein of fines in consumer protection probe

The European Union has today urged fast-fashion retailer Shein to respect EU consumer protection laws and warned it could face fines if it failed to address the EU's concerns.

Business • 26 May

4.6 billion low-value packages - the majority of which came from China - entered the European Union last year

Retailers welcome planned fee on non-EU packages

Irish retailers have welcomed a European Union proposal to add a €2 flat fee on all packages coming from outside the bloc.

Business • 21 May

Keir Starmer is expected to announce a deal with the EU at a summit in London

Talks on EU-UK deal going 'to the wire'

Talks on a EU-UK deal are in their "final hours" ahead of a major summit with the bloc, the British minister in charge of negotiations has said.

UK • 18 May

The Vatican Bank was established to ensure the secrecy of the church's finances - and has only recently started to become more transparent

Prophets and losses: The Vatican Bank's scandalous past

The Vatican Bank was shrouded in mystery and controversy for decades - and problems remain, even after a decade of reforms under Pope Francis.

Business • 19 May

The European Union plans to hit about €100 billion worth of US goods with additional tariffs if trade talks fail, reports from Bloomberg suggest

EU won't be pushed into unfair US tariffs deal - Šefčovič

The European Union is under no pressure to accept an unfair tariff deal with the US, its trade chief said today, adding that it was being contacted by other countries seeking to forge closer trade ties with the 27-nation bloc.

Business • 06 May

Websites and apps that sell products will have to comply with new accessibility rules that come into force next month

Companies urged to comply with new accessibility law

Irish firms need to ensure they are compliant with new European accessibility rules or risk significant penalties, a digital design expert has warned.

Business • 06 May

The European Union has won a landmark case against Britain at the world's oldest arbitration body over post-Brexit rights to fish sandeels

EU wins post-Brexit fishing row with Britain

The European Union has today won a landmark case against Britain at the world's oldest arbitration body over post-Brexit rights to fish sandeels, a tiny North Sea species.

Business • 02 May

The aftermath of a Russian UAV strike on the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine (Credit: State Emergency Service)

Documents show differences over US peace plan for Ukraine

Ukrainian and European officials pushed back this week against some US proposals on how to end Russia's war in Ukraine, making counterproposals on issues from territory to sanctions, according to the full texts of the proposals seen by Reuters.

Ukraine • 25 Apr

The EU's Digital Markets Act sets out a list of dos and don'ts for tech giants such as Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Booking.com, ByteDance, Meta Platforms and Microsoft

EU to enforce digital rules irrespective of CEO, location

The European Union is determined to enforce its full digital rule book no matter who is in charge of companies such as X, Meta, Apple and Tiktok or where they are based, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Politico.

Business • 22 Apr

US President Donald Trump has said he expects to impose tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals in the near future

European pharma companies issue demands to stay in EU

Nearly three dozen global pharmaceutical companies, in a letter to the head of the European Commission, demanded help to maintain operations in the EU despite threatened US tariffs on imports, French business newspaper Les Echos has reported.

Business • 17 Apr

There aren't many US-made products on the shelves of Irish supermarkets - but tariffs could still push up consumer prices in a number of ways

Tariffs at the tills: How a trade war could hit prices

It is unclear the extent to which consumers will be impacted by US-EU tariffs, but what is clear is that they will not escape unscathed, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 06 Apr

23andMe's most valuable asset is the genetic data it holds on roughly 15 million people

23andMe's bankruptcy sale a concern for Irish consumers

Irish consumers should be concerned about 23andMe entering bankruptcy, according to a data protection expert, even if they never used the genetic testing service.

Business • 25 Mar

The joint statement is aimed at showing G7 unity

G7 unites to back Ukraine, warns Russia of sanctions

Foreign ministers from the G7 nations have backed Ukraine's territorial integrity and warned Russia to follow Kyiv in accepting a ceasefire or face possible further sanctions.

World • 14 Mar

Donald Trump has threatened 200% tariffs on alcohol products from the EU

Possible US-EU trade war is 'idiotic' - French minister

US President Donald Trump threatened to impose 200% tariffs on wine, champagne and other alcoholic beverages from European Union countries, in retaliation against the bloc's planned levies on American-made whiskey.

World • 14 Mar

US President Donald Trump has launched trade wars against competitors and partners alike since taking office

US threatens EU with 200% tariffs on alcohol

US President Donald Trump has threatened to slap a 200% tariff on wine, cognac and other alcohol imports from Europe, opening a new front in a global trade war that has roiled financial markets and raised recession fears.

World • 14 Mar

The US has not yet raised tariffs on EU goods - but companies here are still going to be impacted by its trade policies

Irish firms impacted by US tariffs on Canada, Mexico

Ireland will feel the effects of US tariffs - even before they are imposed on European Union goods, according to a trade expert.

Business • 06 Mar

Micheál Martin said there has to be a sustainable peace for Ukraine

Suspension of US aid to Ukraine 'a serious setback'

The Taoiseach has said there is "no doubt" the decision by US President Donald Trump to pause military aid to Ukraine is "a very, very serious development".

Politics • 04 Mar

The European Commission is expected to ease some of the sustainability reporting rules it imposed on larger firms two years ago

Europe set to change corporate sustainability rules

The European Commission looks set to ease some of the rules around corporate sustainability reporting as part of expected changes to one of its directives.

Business • 25 Feb

Donald Trump has long railed against what he calls the unfair treatment of US automotive exports in foreign markets.

Trump says to introduce 25% tariffs on cars, pharma

US President Donald Trump has said he intends to impose auto tariffs "in the neighbourhood of 25%" and similar duties on semiconductors and pharmaceutical imports, the latest in a series of measures threatening to upend international trade.

Business • 19 Feb

Michael McGrath said peace in Ukraine must have its people at the centre of it

Ukraine govt and people 'must be central' to peace deal

The government and people of Ukraine must be central to any peace deal negotiated with Russia, EU Commissioner Michael McGrath has said.

World • 13 Feb

European Council President Antonio Costa (C) speaks alongside Poland's PM Donald Tusk and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

EU leaders agree to boost spending on defence

EU leaders have agreed to boost defence spending in order to counter the threat posed by Russia and to fill critical gaps in military capabilities.

Europe • 04 Feb