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Taoiseach Micheál Martin meeting US President Donald Trump in Washington DC in March. Alamy Stock Photo

EU tariffs on US goods suspended until July as Taoiseach says he hopes pharma forms part of talks

Tánaiste Simon Harris says it would be ‘inappropriate’ for the US to hit the pharma sector with tariffs while the talks are taking place.

LAST UPDATE | 14 Apr

THE EU’S RETALIATORY tariffs on US goods worth €21 billion will be on hold until 14 July to give time for negotiations with Washington DC. 

The European Union was hit with a 20% rate as part of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on 2 April, before he suspended the measures for 90 days a week later.However, Trump’s 10% rate is still in effect across the globe.

To give breathing room for negotiations, the EU in turn last week halted its countermeasures on previously enacted US tariffs on steel and aluminium, and on the auto sector, which remain in place.

The EU’s pause will “take legal effect” tomorrow, the European Commission said.EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic was in Washington DC today for talks with US counterparts in the hope of an agreement before the 90 days are over.

The EU is still preparing its response to the 20% levies, it said, although Brussels has made it clear it would prefer to avoid retaliation.

“The EU considers US tariffs unjustified and damaging, risking economic harm to both sides, as well as the global economy,” the commission said.

Speaking about the tariffs today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he hopes the pharmaceutical and semiconductors manufacturing sectors will form part of negotiations between the European Union and the US.

The US has yet to announce plans to slap tariffs on the pharmaceutical sector, which is a particular concern for the Irish economy as it accounts for a significant amount of exports to the US.

Pharmaceuticals are currently exempt from the 20% tariffs but the US administration has previously said it would consider taxing such imports.

“There is an opportunity now for negotiation and I would hope, in that opportunity, that the sectoral issues in pharma and also in semiconductors would form part of that”, the Fianna Fáil leader added.

“In other words, that it would form part of the wider negotiation and the European Commission is also of that mindset, so that they would have a comprehensive settlement between the European Union and the United States.

“It is the largest trading relationship in the world, hugely impactful and it is important that we don’t end up in a situation where undue harm would be caused to people or indeed to the world economy or those specifics sectors.

“Medicine is key to life and tariffs will increase the costs and that’s the key point, both in America and around the world,” said Martin. 

Screenshot - 2025-04-14T165747.194 Tánaiste Simon Harris in Luxembourg today for EU trade ministers meeting.

‘Inappropriate’

However, Tánaiste Simon Harris told RTÉ News today that it would be “inappropriate” for the US to hit the pharmaceutical sector with tariffs while it was at the same time negotiating with the EU on the trade relationship.

“It would be inappropriate if during that time, the United States was to take further action on a sectoral basis, including towards pharma.

“We’re either having good faith discussions or we’re not. And if we’re having good faith discussions, it means there should be a pause on any additional measures whilst those discussions take place,” he said.

Harris, who was in Luxembourg for a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers, told the media earlier today that it was his impression that the US was now interested in negotiating but warned that it would be “foolish” not to prepare for an environment in which tariffs persist.

Screenshot (124) Xi will visit Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia, all of which have been hit hard by US tariffs. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The talk of trade between the EU and the US takes place against the backdrop of China leader Xi Jinping warning that protectionism “leads nowhere” and that a trade war would have “no winners”. 

Xi will visit Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia in the coming days, in a bid to seek to tighten trade ties and offset the impact of tariffs unleashed by his US counterpart. 

He said today he was looking forward to an “in-depth exchange of views” with Vietnamese leaders on issues concerning ties between the two parties and countries that have a global impact.

Beijing is trying to present itself as a stable alternative to an erratic Trump.

Each of the nations on his schedule has been hit hard by US tariffs; Vietnam’s exports to the US now face a 46% levy, Malaysia’s are at 24% and Cambodia’s are at 49%.

Screenshot (134) People wave Chinese flags as the plane carrying Chinese president Xi Jinping arrives at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Vietnam Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Xi earlier urged the two countries to “resolutely safeguard the multilateral trading system, stable global industrial and supply chains, and open and cooperative international environment”.

Vietnam’s top leader To Lam said in an article posted on the government’s news portal today that his country “is always ready to join hands with China to make cooperation between the two countries more substantive, profound, balanced and sustainable”.

With reporting by – © AFP 2025 and Christina Finn.

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    Mute Keith Wizzy
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    Oct 15th 2013, 4:32 PM

    A disgrace on many levels. Particularly forcing young people into poverty or emigration if not even suicide.

    36
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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
    Favourite Leslie Alan Rock
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    Oct 15th 2013, 4:52 PM

    Just shorten it to a few simple words. “Gooddbye under 25s of ireland”.
    Convinced now they are making the the books look good through mass Emmigration and death. Send one away. Drive the others to death. Shame on you kenny, howlin,noonan, gilmore et al

    26
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    Mute Pat Tobin
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    Oct 15th 2013, 5:18 PM

    Couldn’t agree more! Talk about putting people out on the street!

    12
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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
    Favourite Leslie Alan Rock
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    Oct 15th 2013, 5:24 PM

    The optimist in me wouldn’t allow me to think it but not I truly truly believe it

    5
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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Oct 15th 2013, 6:32 PM

    Its not all bad, I’m sure in a few years they’ll be invited back to another bloody Gathering.

    5
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    Mute Shaun the Sheep
    Favourite Shaun the Sheep
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    Oct 15th 2013, 4:44 PM

    10 million for Priory Hall and 10million for all other ghost estates. Hardly fair. Priory have it handy, mortgage paid off, rent paid for another year, and a second bite at property cheery. How many wouldn’t trade places with them?

    21
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    Mute Martin Sinnott
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    Oct 15th 2013, 4:54 PM

    They. Should put a tax of 70% on TD’s pensions

    20
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    Mute Joey JoeJoe Shabadoo
    Favourite Joey JoeJoe Shabadoo
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    Oct 15th 2013, 5:22 PM

    Why?

    8
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    Mute Mel Finn
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    Oct 15th 2013, 4:56 PM

    in my house EVERY DAY IS BUDGET DAY

    16
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    Mute Jamie Edwards
    Favourite Jamie Edwards
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    Oct 15th 2013, 5:04 PM

    I can’t be the only one who noticed the

    “It should be noted that the rate for those availing of the Back to Education scheme is €160″

    A whole 28 euro less than it should be.

    Sneaky fecker.

    14
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    Mute Barbara Edwards
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    Oct 15th 2013, 4:40 PM

    Astounded at the amount of PR spin in that. News at one had great concise list – which is what we want.

    12
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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Oct 15th 2013, 5:33 PM

    Theres a job in wexford for him for christmas an elf all hes good for lets see how he gets on for 9€an hour the dirty mongrel.

    7
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    Mute Jazz O'Gorman
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    Oct 15th 2013, 5:22 PM

    Howlin’ at the moon, he’s a damn werewolf.

    5
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    Mute Sean Collins
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    Oct 15th 2013, 11:02 PM

    Howlin you miserable GIT

    1
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    Mute jom eade
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    Oct 15th 2013, 5:47 PM

    Shorter and more savage, less rounded and malignant than his accomplice!

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    Mute Francie Doherty
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    Oct 16th 2013, 2:16 PM

    If I remember right he yous to be a union official,a least that’s what they called them selfs.?.

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    Mute Sean Collins
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    Oct 15th 2013, 6:22 PM

    Gonna be a tough year! Just hope we can hang on for another year till the next budget as that was promised by Enda as not to be an austerity budget! Fingers crossed but not holding my breath!

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    Mute Catherine Gill
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    Oct 15th 2013, 7:08 PM

    “It is in this context that we are extending the €100 reduced rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance and Supplementary Welfare Allowance to existing recipients who reach 22, and for new entrants aged up to 24 on or after 1 January 2014. The reduced rate of €144 will apply to those reaching 25 from January 2014. It should be noted that the rate for those availing of the Back to Education scheme is €160. It is in education and training that our young people should be.”

    I understand that you can only access the Back to Education scheme if you have already been on social welfare for 9 months, and you have to be 24 to take a postgraduate course.

    http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/back_to_education_allowance.html

    What is a 21/22 year old college graduate supposed to do? I mean, obviously emigrate, but I’d love to know what the Minister’s answer would be…

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