Ireland at 'moment of major economic challenge' over US tariffs

Ireland is "now at a moment of major economic challenge", Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Harris has said.

It comes after US President Donald Trump's threat to impose 30% tariffs on imports from the European Union (EU) and Mexico.

Harris is expected to tell the Irish Cabinet on Tuesday that the threatened tariffs could have a significant impact on the economy and could potentially lead to job losses happening quicker than anticipated.

Trump has warned he will impose even higher import taxes if either of the US trading partners decide to retaliate.

Speaking on his way into Government Buildings in Dublin on Tuesday, Harris said the impact of 30% tariffs would be "extraordinary", RTÉ reports.

He said Ireland is working alongside European partners to prepare for "every eventuality".

"We're going to have to pull together in the hours and days ahead as we try to navigate our way through the latest scenario in relation to trade tariffs," the tánaiste said.

"There were moments last week where I believe it was almost palpable that there was an agreement nearly in place, and really what needs to happen in the hours and days ahead is a renewed effort to arrive at an agreement that can protect jobs, can protect economic stability in Ireland, in Europe and in the United States," he said.

Harris added that he believes Trump's threats of tariffs are an effort to negotiate and apply pressure on other countries for a US trade deal.

"If you arrived in a scenario where there were 30% tariffs, the impact to that is extraordinary," he said.

Mr Harris said it would "completely and utterly alter the trading relationship between Ireland and the United States".

"You'd go from a situation at 10% tariffs where you're seeing a slower rate of new job growth, to a situation of 30% where inevitably, you'll be seeing job losses."

RTÉ reports that Harris will tell colleagues that Ireland's focus remains on negotiations to reach a deal to avoid a full-blown trade war between the US and the EU.

The EU has been a frequent target of Trump's criticism.

On 2 April, he proposed a 20% tariff for goods from the bloc, as well as dozens of other trade partners. He then threatened to raise the EU import taxes to 50% as trade talks stalled.

Washington and Brussels had hoped to reach an agreement before a deadline of 9 July, but there have been no announcements on progress.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU remained ready "to continue working towards an agreement" by 1 August.