Taoiseach Micheál Martin will meet senior EU figures in Brussels today before travelling onto Paris where he will attend the Artificial Intelligence summit.
Mr Martin’s visit comes amid heightened fears about US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on European goods.
Last night, Mr Trump announced 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium products entering the United States.
The Taoiseach will meet European Council President António Costa – the council brings together 27 EU leaders – as well as President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola.
Mr Martin is a well known figure in Brussels having served as Taoiseach and Minister for Foreign Affairs, but the geopolitical backdrop means this is more than a simple courtesy visit by a new Taoiseach.
Ireland would be uniquely exposed to US tariffs, or any move by President Trump to attack European tax regimes which he believes unfairly target US corporations.
The threat of US tariffs moved closer when Mr Trump told reporters on Air Force One he would announce 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium products today, but would also announce further tariffs tomorrow or Wednesday, to take effect immediately.
He did not state which countries or products would be targeted in what he called reciprocal tariffs.
In a televised election debate in Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the EU could respond to any US tariffs within an hour.
The Taoiseach will outline Ireland’s Programme for Government and look ahead to the Irish presidency of the European Union in the second half of next year.
What the world will look like two years into a second Donald Trump presidency is hard to predict.
