Tánaiste Simon Harris has met business leaders to discuss ways to protect Ireland from any potential US tariffs and trade policy changes.
The inaugural meeting of the Government Trade Forum took place at Government Buildings.
The group was established two weeks ago by the Tánaiste in his role as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, to discuss ways to protect Ireland from the ongoing risk of potential US tariffs and other financial policy changes which could impact the EU.
The group has two priorities – to emphasise to US businesses the benefit of working with Ireland, and to find ways to protect the Irish economy from trade related difficulties.
Today’s meeting was attended by officials from the departments of the Taoiseach, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Enterprise and Agriculture, among others, while business groups attending include Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, IBEC, ISME and the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland.
Among the issues discussed include the risk to supply chains, the potential impact on Ireland’s pharmaceutical sector and the need for EU solidarity in response to any threatened US tariffs.
Simon Harris said today’s meeting involved a “substantive and frank exchange on transatlantic and EU trade developments”.
Mr Harris said: “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,” he added.
The inaugural meeting of the group comes two weeks before the expected visit of Taoiseach Micheál Martin to the White House for a meeting with US president Donald Trump.
While the Taoiseach’s visit to the White House has yet to be officially confirmed, should it take place as is tradition it is likely to include discussion on the trade relationship between the US and Ireland.
