These actions aim to replace US president Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, which were recently deemed illegal by the US Supreme Court. Ireland was specifically mentioned in documents from US trade representative Jamieson Greer, who pointed out:“Ireland has maintained a substantial goods trade surplus — $97bn or 15.9% of GDP in 2024. In 2023, its goods trade surplus with the rest of the world reached $57bn. Ireland bound within the EU trade negotiations systemIn any event, we are bound within the EU trade negotiations system, which has been a useful shield, giving Ireland protection within the wider trade negotiations. However, as with all negotiations with the Trump administration, the situation is fluid, with potential for further, more targeted actions against some sectors.

Source: Irish Examiner March 15, 2026 16:06 UTC