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TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS has spoken to US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick to “exchange views” with each other.
Lutnick, a vocal critic of Ireland’s trade imbalance with the US, has previously described Ireland has his favourite “tax scam”. It comes as the Trump administration plans to impose major tariffs on the EU next month.
Harris, who is also Minister for Trade and Defence, held the call late last night and welcomed further conversations in the future. He added that Ireland “greatly” values the economic links between the country and the US, and the EU and the States.
The Irish Government believes it is highly likely that US President Donald Trump will proceed with further tariffs on the EU on 2 April. Finance minister Paschal Donohoe has said last week that those taxes may result in the loss of 80,000 new and existing jobs.
A package of targeted tariffs has been delayed by the EU until mid-April and is expected to squeeze specific sectors that will pressure allies and supporters of US President Donald Trump to overturn the looming trade war.
There is a growing concern, however, that the package - the same measures issued in 2018 and 2020 by the EU – are outdated and need to be more strategic in what, and who, they target.
In an interview with The Journal last week, the Tánaiste said he welcomed the fact that there “is an openness now” to looking at the list of retaliatory tariffs proposed by the EU. He said the European Commission is open to discuss the issue.
He went on to state that any countermoves should always be strategic. The Tánaiste’s phone call with Lutnick is the first time he has spoken to his American counterpart, who said he would “fix” Ireland’s trade and tax imbalance before taking up his role.
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Ireland is about to be closed for business come the 2nd April.
@Rian O’Sullivan: great news. Why should Ireland be spared. Bring on the recession.
@Buster Lawless: and good riddance.
@Buster Lawless: Hopefully that would be amazing
@Buster Lawless: You’re uneducated! Why would they? They need an EU base..
@Buster Lawless: google does €177 billion of business across Europe, Ireland is the gateway for that business. Can’t see them giving that up.
@North Phone Bowe: Afaik Ireland only provides computer program services which can be done from anywhere, all other items are shipped from their central distribution centre in Holland.
Harris will sound like Bosco on the phone.
The Irish fella rings the oversized Maga nodding toothless major of Trump. America on its own now, it’s not the great power it claimed to be. Pascal making up zombie rethrotric suffering from we cannot reduce taxes syndrome.
We’re in Europe, we trade with United Kingdom, goggle is world wide, we have the best climate for growing, Australia trades with us, India, china, etc..
We’re not imploding the stock market with on off tariffs. Do not let the Irish politicians use this as a distraction away from the housing crisis.
@Liam Foy: Lol! I had to wade through this, but best climate for growing… Hilarious. You can’t plant anything but turnips. Ireland is miniscule if you pull all the US companies and investors, it will simply shrivel like a prune.
@Phose: tomatoes, strawberries, oats, parsnips, carrots, potatoes, wheat, barley, parsley, thymus vulgaris, saffron , fennel, chieves, mushroom, rape seed , soya, raspberries, etc.. our climate suits growing but turnip is used in agriculture to feed animals. Lol
@Liam Foy: Some might say there is ‘a power in one’. Sometimes a country, like that of a household or an individual must reflect, take stock and make changes. This sometimes requires one to contract and focus on what’s most important to future growth, like that in pruning a rose bush.
@Liam Foy: if you think harris, Jack Chambers and paschal are a match for lutnick, bassent and rubio then you need assessing mate
@Liam Foy: I’d imagine there is a huge demand for Fennel etc. Hilarious post.
If Lutnick lives up to the standard of current eejits, he’ll confuse % with cents and tariffs will go up across the board by a dime.
Harris is similar to leo very passive aggressive at times and allows his own emotions speak for him sometimes which can be counterproductive, when dealing with egotistical individuals a clever yes man is required with a level head.
@Darran Macken: nobody can deal with the unhinged MAGA
@Liam Foy: loads of nations are its called false respect to gather a benifitcal outcome for yourself, you don’t have to change your view points you alter your approach is all china does it so well they appease everyone to benefit themselves.
@Liam Foy: Mexico dealt with America well they took there medicine and got on with it now you never hear of tariffs on Mexico like you do with Canada, Canada bit and fell into the trap Mexico didn’t.
@Darran Macken: MAGA a cult of brain washing. Under Trump and his nodding yes selections.
@Liam Foy: Nothing unhinged about looking out for ones own country, economy and people. We could learn a lesson or two. But no….lessons already learnt, or maybe not.
For those slating the US on this matter, please detail where they are wrong? What have we done to deserve this revenue? At the same time people are saying don’t shop at Amazon.ie, because we need to keep it local and keep Irish money in Ireland. The hypocrisy is absolutely staggering; so is the ineptitude of Irish governments, who despite diverting other countries revenues for 30 years have not built an economy of our own, head scratch stuff.
Lutnic the lunatic.
@James Leahy: Roll on April 2nd. The soundbites from Simple Simon and Mehole will break the sound barrier and overload the BS tank. The hyped visits to the US pre St. Patrick’s and serious faced buffoons talking big when they are back in Ireland but like little mice in front of lions when in the US. A serious slap is needed in this country that the sheer arrogance and complacency the Irish government has for decades been, now is faced with the reality of President Trump and his dream team. Only when the country has mass unemployment and will implode will people take the government to task and rebel. Hit them in the pockets and you will see them finally start to do what they should be doing and not pretending they are a super power in Gaza or Ukraine.
@Phose: excellent comment, 100% correct, harris can start his sound bites then, “let me be clear on this” and his other bullscutter ramblings!
@James Leahy: Lutnick the Zionist
@Phose: At least they went to America not like SF. The hurlers on the ditch as usual. Ms McDonald had a golden opportunity to confront Trump but would rather whinge- Micheál Martin should have said this and done that. Ms McDonald hiding behind a useless boycott.
@Phose: most on th button comment youll read today. totally agree with you.
He should of let Pascal the Rascal make that call..
Just convince them that it’s Iceland that has taken all the jobs from Merica. As if MAGA knows the difference anyways
Is it really America’s fault they want all there jobs back from a country that allows them to pay lower taxes on profits made world wide. Or is it Irelands fault for putting all our eggs in one basket. One thing is for sure if we do end up sinking into a recession it is going to get very bad very quickly. Our national debt is not manageable if the markets get spooked. This has all been known for a very long time just like the housing bubble last time. I’m not sure anything can be done now as we are in deep. Even if Trump doesn’t go ahead with his plans its only a matter of time.
@Gavin Smartr: well said Gavin. i keep saying exactly the same. our economy and national wellbeing economically is built on a foundation of sand. our national debt is out of control, we are heading o an era where the pension time bomb and ageing population will sink us, and worst of all we are run by a bunch of incompetents. trump and co are absolutely right in tackling the problems of US which have been allowed to fester under succesive administrations. and if anyone in this country thinks trump (a multi billionaire) surronded by some of the other most succesful individuals in business…lutnick, musk ramaswamy, bessent etc, dont understand economics, then youve swallowed a delusion pill. this country along with the eu is ona one way street to economic ruin
Lutnick: Hello who am I speaking to?
Simon: Harris.
Lutnick: Kamala?
Simon: no, Simon Harris.
Lutnick: Who?
Phone call ends.
The vest thing that could happen this country is if trump and Co went after our multinational tax scam. We have become totally over reliant on this easy money. And decisions are being made by government on unsustainable economics. If we had less of this unicorn land cash we might actually get hold of costs and mit let dcandals like the bike shed, national children’s hospital, asylum fiasco unfold. And aliso it might get us focused on our own indigenous industries such as tourism, agriculture and fisheries which successive government’s have destroyed
Grovel grovel, a new dictator has emerged and many countries just play along. Start refocussing on other markets now and as the orange one himself says, there will be pain but it will be well worth it in the long term. The man clearly can afford any price charged for his dinner unlike us paupers who have to shop around for getting something a bit cheaper so we can afford to cook it too….
There’s an old adage ” better to have said nothing and be thought a fool than to have opened your mouth to confirm it!”… no offence meant but a shut mouth catches no flies!
Everyone should just block the troll Rian . No doubt he’ll be back with another one of his minimum half dozen accounts here anyways. An alledged Irish person openly celebrating something that undoubtedly and incontrovertibly would be terrible for our country is simply Treason. He deserves a bullet but needs professional help. I have blocked him
@FoxyBoiiYT: Sorry it’s technically mute not block on this site
@FoxyBoiiYT: Mute him and his backup IDs. He can see you, but his comments wither and die. Stop engaging. Be kind.
@FoxyBoiiYT: Oh please no I can’t cope not hearing from you pet.
Harris presenting a different type of bowl, this time bereft of weeds. Empty in fact.
I see Leaky Leo on his first day with Benta is the new speechwriter of choice for Ursula VDL. Jesus H Wept. Shameless.
I bet there is an Israeli angle to a lot of this
Sure isn’t Lutnick working for the biggest tax scammer of them all! Maybe he should check to see how many billions trump has scammed the American taxpayer.
Surely the Intellectual Property tax dodge to avoid US tax should be closed by the US itself?
Is profit taking is shifted to where IP is domiciled for tax purposes, just abolish that loophole, and nail the culprit corporations by point of sale VAT, and Dividend taxation.
Huge divvies are filtering back via Wall st investors, so that could counter the present IP loophole without any tariff tradewar.
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