Retaliating against U.S. digital services not EU position, Ireland says

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Targeting U.S. digital services in potential reciprocal trade measures is not the European Union's position and would be very damaging for Ireland, trade minister Simon Harris said on Thursday, urging negotiations.

Harris was responding to comments from a French government spokesperson that services, notably digital services, were likely to be a focus of EU measures considered in response to new U.S. tariffs. Many U.S. tech giants have their EU headquarters in Ireland.

"That's not the position of the European Union. Different countries may have different perspectives, but the position of the European Union is outlined by the Commission president this morning," Harris told national broadcaster RTE.

"I can understand why countries reference the instruments that are at our disposal, should they be required, but we should really work to avoid ever getting to that point... The position has to be negotiate to a better level and I am confident that that's where the very significant majority perspective is," Harris said.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Catarina Demony)

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