Key points
- Trump met with Micheál Martin in the Oval Office
- Trump plans to implement reciprocal tariffs on the EU
- Martin repeated his call for humanitarian aid to Gaza along with a two-state solution
- Nobody is expelling any Palestinians from Gaza: Trump
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump criticised Ireland on Wednesday for attracting US companies with its low tax rates, but pledged to collaborate with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin to address what he referred to as the “massive deficits” in trade between the two nations.
Trump met with Martin in the Oval Office and again at an evening event, where the Irish leader presented Trump with a bowl of shamrocks in celebration of St Patrick’s Day. The two also attended a lunch at the Capitol, according to Reuters.
This marked Trump’s first meeting with a foreign leader since his tense interaction with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month.
Their talks touched on trade and the Gaza conflict, though both leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation between the countries.
Retaliatory tariffs
Typically, a lighthearted event, the St. Patrick’s Day meeting involved discussions over tariffs. Trump stated that he would respond to retaliatory tariffs announced by the European Union, of which Ireland is a member, starting April 2.
He emphasised that the US would impose reciprocal tariffs on European goods, regardless of the rate.
White House officials had no details about the expected response after the EU slapped tariffs on $28 billion of US goods in response to US tariffs on steel and aluminium – measures Trump hopes will rebuild US manufacturing.
“Whatever they charge us, we’re charging them,” Trump said, of the planned reciprocal tariffs. “If they charge us 25 or 20 per cent or 10 per cent or 2 per cent or 200 per cent, then that’s what we’re charging them.”
Luring US companies
Trump also criticised Ireland for luring US pharmaceutical companies with lower taxes, acknowledging the nation’s right to do so but suggesting that US leaders should have acted to prevent such offshoring.
Despite this, he described Ireland as a beautiful country but insisted that the trade imbalance needed to be addressed.
Martin praised Trump’s investments in Ireland, specifically a golf course in Doonbeg, and reiterated the importance of maintaining strong trade relations between the two countries.
“We’ve built prosperity through free and fair trade with partners all over the world, and particularly here in these United States, let us continue to build on that foundation,” he said during the evening event. “Let us continue to work together to make sure that we maintain that mutually beneficial two-way economic relationship that has allowed innovation and creativity and prosperity to thrive.”
He pointed to increased US investments from Irish companies like Ryanair and pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, which has expanded its US investments.
EU tariffs
While Trump has not targeted Ireland directly with his trade policies, Ireland, as part of the European Union, is subject to EU tariffs, which could affect its significant foreign direct investment from US multinationals.
Trump also threatened to impose tariffs on pharmaceutical products, a key sector for Ireland.
Regarding global issues, Martin acknowledged Trump’s efforts for peace in Ukraine and the Middle East, while both leaders expressed a shared interest in securing the release of hostages held by Hamas and achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Irish leader repeated his call for a surge of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave and his support for a two-state solution, but did not directly address a question about Trump’s call for removing Palestinians from Gaza.
“Nobody is expelling any Palestinians from Gaza,” Trump shot back to a question on the issue.
