European Union Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan has said EU state aid rules may be relaxed if the coronavirus outbreak has a negative impact on member state economies.
The Commissioner made his comments ahead of delivering a speech at the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland conference at Croke Park today.
During his speech, Commissioner Hogan said it was "difficult to take comfort" from rhetoric coming from the UK in recent weeks in relation to the negotiations over a post-Brexit trade deal.
However, he said the "mood music" had improved in the first week of negotiations in Brussels.
He said he hoped the rhetoric was like "the bit of argy bargy in the tunnel you can't do anything about".
Commissioner Hogan referred to a recent speech by the UK trade negotiator David Frost which he said "seems to confirm the UK will want to renege on commitments already made and pursue a hard Brexit".
He said this is "a real cause for concern", adding that he hoped this was perhaps just "the opening skirmishes" which were "part of every match".
The Commissioner said he was concerned that companies may be "sleepwalking" into what might emerge from the trade deal and that there may be "a little bit of complacency".
He also said the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) are in need of an overhaul.
Un relation to recent trade tensions between the EU and the US, Commissioner Hogan said both sides were taking slow, small steps towards what he described as a possible "mini-deal".
He will travel to US for St Patrick's Day and hold meetings with his counterpart there.
