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Phil Hogan, Ireland's European Commission nominee, will be confirmed tomorrow as the EU's chief trade negotiator, @rtenews understands
Hogan, who has been a trenchant critic of Brexiteers, will be appointed the new EU trade commissioner by the incoming Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen
An EU source described the appointment as "one of the most important economic portfolios in the next Commission, coming at a very important time for the EU and Ireland
Sources say Phil Hogan played a key role in concluding the EU-Japan and EU-Mercosur trade deals
However, he was criticised by Irish farming organisations for the Mercosur trade pact following concerns that South American beef imports to the EU could undermine Ireland's beef producers
The appointment of Phil Hogan as the new EU trade commissioner arguably sends a powerful signal that the Irish border issue will remain at the heart of any future EU-UK free trade agreement
He will be assisted by the secretary general of DG Trade by Sabine Weyand, one of the leading negotiators in Michel Barnier's Brexit Task Force
