says Taoiseach

1 month ago | rte.ie | Sean Whelan |says Taoiseach

"I, Donald J Trump, President of the United States of America, find that underlying conditions, including a lack of reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships, disparate tariff rates and non-tariff barriers and US trading partners' economic policies that suppress domestic wages and consumption, as indicated by large and persistent annual US goods trade deficits, constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and economy of the United States.

1 month ago | rte.ie | Sean Whelan |says Taoiseach

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen said US President Trump's universal tariffs are a major blow to the world economy, which she said will suffer massively. Mr Trump earlier unveiled a 10% minimum tariff on most goods imported to the United States - with a higher 20% rate for the European Union - kicking into high gear a global trade war that threatens to drive up inflation and stall US and worldwide economic growth.

1 month ago | rte.ie | Sean Whelan |says Taoiseach

Why is Donald Trump raising tariffs? I don't know: nobody does for sure. Except possibly a small group in the administration. No doubt they will explain it to us later today when the president and his cabinet gather in the Rose Garden of the White House to make their announcement around 9pm Irish time (that's 4pm US time, after the stock markets close). The White House is billing it as a "Make America Wealthy Again" event.

1 month ago | rte.ie | Sean Whelan |says Taoiseach

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2 months ago | rte.ie | Sean Whelan |says Taoiseach

Tánaiste Simon Harris has said Ireland and the rest of the EU is in for a period of trade turbulence with the United States. Speaking in Philadelphia where he is attending St Patrick's day festivities, he said that hopes the two sides will keep the period of disagreement as short as possible so they can reach an agreement that is suitable for both sides. Mr Harris said "we're very clear in Ireland that obviously our membership of the European Union is a core part of who we are.