Irish exports to US surge by 200% ahead of tariffs

The Republic of Ireland's goods exports to the United States surged by more than 200% in February.

The move likely reflected companies getting goods into the country ahead of new tariffs.

Irish goods exports to the US in February 2024 were worth €4.2bn (£3.6bn) rising to just under €13bn (£11bn) in February this year.

US President Donald Trump announced a round of tariffs earlier in April with the threat of more to come.

Tariffs are effectively taxes applied to goods imported from other countries.

In 2024, Irish goods exports to the US were worth €73bn (£61bn), almost a third of the country's total exports.

Ireland's biggest export sector is pharmaceuticals.

The country is a major manufacturing hub for US companies like Pfizer and Eli Lilly.

In 2024 overall exports of medical and pharmaceutical products rose by €22.4bn (£18.8bn) or 29% to just under €100bn (£83.7bn).

These products accounted for 45% of all Irish goods exports.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his unhappiness at the scale of US pharma manufacturing in Ireland.

He has not yet imposed a specific tariff on pharma imports but says he still intends to do so.