The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, will discuss the foot-and-mouth crisis in his meeting with US President Mr George W Bush on Friday.
A spokesman for the Taoiseach's office told ireland.comthis afternoon Mr Ahern will seek an exemption for Ireland from a US ban on animal products from Europe, imposed after confirmation of foot-and-mouth disease in France.
Mr Ahern is also expected to stress this country "does not have a single case of foot and mouth".
Mr Ahern is flying to Washington today for a series of "high-powered" meetings with US politicians including his first conference with the new US president.
The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Joe Walsh, today claimed progress in diplomatic efforts to have Ireland exempted from the US ban.
Efforts to persuade the US on the issue continued overnight, prompting Mr Walsh to report: "I am confident that we have made progress."
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Irish action on the US ban - also introduced by Canada - came because of Ireland's more-than £100 million-valued annual exports of farm-linked products across the Atlantic.
Goods sent to America include whiskey cream liqueurs and chocolate crumb products, as well as other milk products and pork.
Mr Walsh said: "I believe we have convinced the US Department of Agriculture that cream liqueurs and chocolate crumb are OK, though we still have some work to do on other items."
Ten days ago, after intensive lobbying in the US, Ireland succeeded in getting an earlier US import ban dropped after it had been introduced because of the Northern Ireland foot-and-mouth case.
At a news briefing this afternoon, Mr Walsh also said the ban on French imports would stay until it confirmed all the EU Standing Veterinary Committee's measures were in place.
The Minister confirmed he had signed new legislation on the control of animal movements passed by the Dáil and Seanad last week. He said further orders would be introduced over the next week.
The department also expects to introduce a new sheep-tagging system and traceability system for meat factories by the end of May.
Under the new legislation, penalties would include the potential confiscation of farms, mart premises and meat factories.
Additional reporting PA