As Ireland's PM visits China, businesses back home seek stronger trade

Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin has paid a state visit to China, leading a large business delegation – the first visit by an Irish prime minister to China in 14 years.

During the five-day trip, Martin is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, as well as other senior officials, before traveling on to the country's financial hub Shanghai, according to China's Foreign Ministry.

"China is willing to take this visit as an opportunity to enhance political mutual trust and expand mutually beneficially cooperation with Ireland," the ministry said in a statement.

Trade remains a central pillar of bilateral ties

China and Ireland are long-standing trade partners, with bilateral trade volumes reaching approximately $23.4 billion in 2024. Ireland — often described as a gateway for China into Europe – is one of the few European Union countries that runs a trade surplus with China.

Trade cooperation spans agri-food, pharmaceuticals and high-value services such as aviation leasing.

Queally Group is among Ireland's largest agri-food businesses, trading meat, pet food and beverages across more than 60 countries and regions. The company has done business with China for around 25 years and hopes to expand further in the world's second-largest economy.

"China probably has the best potential of any market worldwide," Liam Queally, Director of Queally Group, told CGTN. "It's a huge market, it has huge potential. They're big consumers of protein, so we've had relative success over the years, particularly on pork.

"There's great opportunities ahead for beef and pet food and other added-value products that we might be doing. There's some hurdles to jump on in terms of legislation and regulation to clear the runway."

Ireland's agri-food sector is highly export-oriented, with official figures showing around 90 percent of Irish beef production is exported each year.

Irish beef exports to China were temporarily suspended in late 2023 following the detection of a single BSE case. Market access was reinstated in January 2024 after high-level engagement, including a state visit by China's Premier Li Qiang. 

While access was technically restored, discussions between Irish and Chinese officials continued into late 2025 over full trading conditions, and export volumes have yet to return to previous levels.

Exporters like Queally hope the Taoiseach's visit will help smooth the path forward.

From Ireland's Shannon Free Zone to Hainan Free Trade Port 

Ireland was one of the first countries in the world to establish a special economic zone, with the Shannon Free Zone created in 1959 to attract foreign investment through tax incentives and streamlined regulation.

During Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Ireland in February 2025, he highlighted how Ireland's "Shannon Experience" helped inspire China's own economic reforms.

Chad Huang, Chairman of Teng Long Aviation Group Ireland and Secretary General of the China-Europe Business Association, is among the business figures accompanying the Irish leader to Beijing.

Huang says his company is launching a new project in Hainan, representing Irish and European aviation leasing firms, as the Hainan Free Trade Port offers zero tariffs on most goods entering the island. 

He told CGTN that Ireland is the world's largest hub for aircraft leasing, with China one of its biggest markets, and that business with China could reach $1 billion in 2026.

"[It's a] very exciting moment for us to explore more business opportunities in China and the Asia market," he told CGTN. "I think with Michéal Martin and the delegation's official visit, I love to see more and more business between aviation industries of Ireland and China and especially with like a governing body like IAA and the CAAC and especially with the opportunity in the future we have C919, C929 with the Chinese-made aircraft coming to the market in the next decade."

Huang believes expanding trade with China could help offset pressures created by higher tariffs imposed by the United States.

"Irish goods and services exported to the US now are facing a duty which has never happened before. For certain industries, that is a challenge. A lot of Irish businesses find it hard to cope with. In my opinion, China could be a solution," he added.

Navigating geopolitical tensions 

Despite strong economic ties, Ireland faces the challenge of balancing engagement with China while aligning with broader EU policies and global trade dynamics.

Ahead of the visit, Prime Minister Martin pushed back against remarks by the head of Ireland's Military Intelligence Service, who described China as a "hostile state actor" towards Ireland. Martin instead emphasised the need for engagement and economic cooperation with Beijing.

In an interview with The Journal before the visit, Martin said there must be a conscious effort to engage with China to sell Irish-produced goods into Asian markets, adding that he appreciates the concept of "strategic autonomy".

China and Ireland have increased high-level exchanges in recent years, with Premier Li Qiang visiting Ireland in January 2024, followed by Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit in February 2025.