Business leaders had a “frank exchange” with the government about the risk of US tariffs on Ireland at a meeting earlier.
Tánaiste Simon Harris TD chaired the first meeting of the government’s new Trade Forum today.
The Forum was set up two weeks ago to work on ways on boosting Ireland’s economic prospects. Ministers, officials and business leaders took part.
The government says the aim is to “facilitate engagement with key domestic stakeholders on latest and emerging trade developments and opportunities.”
Members include IDA Ireland, Bord Bia (Irish Food Board) and the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland.
Following the meeting, the Tánaiste said they had a “substantive and frank exchange on transatlantic and EU trade developments.
“We also discussed the plans for an ambitious schedule of Ministerial-led trade missions in 2025 in collaboration with Irish business and State Agencies. These have started already and will continue intensively through the year as a key part of the international promotion of Ireland.”
US President Donald Trump has already announced a range of tariffs which are due to come into force in March. But there are also fears that more tariffs are in the pipeline.
The EU’s Trade Commissioner went to Washington last week to try and persuade the US administration to back down. So far without success.
It’s feared Ireland could be particularly badly hit.
“As an open and globalised economy, it is of the utmost importance that we maintain a strategic focus on the international trading environment and that we have the right structures to support the next phase of our economic growth”, said Simon Harris after this morning’s meeting with business leaders.
“The Government Trade Forum will be an important forum of exchange with key Government and business stakeholders on how we best mitigate the most challenging aspects and identify the opportunities to grow Ireland’s trading relationships.”
“It is clear that while there are challenges to be navigated, there are also opportunities to further develop Ireland’s international trading relationships. Identifying and maximising those opportunities will be a major focus of the St Patrick’s Day programme next month. Today’s first meeting is the continuation of a detailed engagement by Government with the business sector and the Forum will meet again in April to consider a comprehensive work programme informed by the discussion today.”