UL lecturer Rory Costello highlights concerns over tariffs as Taoiseach Micheál Martin begins St. Patrick’s Day visit to the US
Ireland is in a “tricky position” as US President Donald Trump starts trade wars with various countries, University of Limerick politics lecturer Rory Costello warns.
Mr Costello’s comments come as Taoiseach Micheál Martin begins his St. Patrick’s Day visit to America. The Taoiseach´s engagements commence this Monday afternoon in Austin, Texas, before moving to Washington D.C for the next two days, where he will meet Mr Trump for a bilateral meeting.
While Mr Martin says he will engage with President Trump in a “respectful manner”, he will “try to make the case for free trade.” This comes as the threat of a 25 percent tariff on goods imported from the US lingers over the EU. Rory Costello said that while Micheál Martin’s “power is limited”, he will still have an involvement in discussing the damages of a trade war.
According to Costello: Mr Martin “has the power of the whole bloc (EU) behind him,” but will be left to face criticism over the “trade imbalance” between Ireland and the US, in what is being described as a pinch point, he claimed.
It’s not thought that Ireland’s Triple Lock will be a huge topic of discussion over the coming days’ meetings, the lecturer believes. “While Ireland is facing huge pressure from the EU to increase defence spending, and the US would like European countries to be spending more, we’re not facing as much pressure internationally to change the Triple-Lock as many think”.
The Taoiseach, various other government members, officials and enterprise representatives will be involved in meetings in the US over the coming days. This includes a speech at the Embassy of Ireland’s St. Patrick’s Day reception tomorrow, March 11, as well as attending the Ireland Funds Gala on Thursday.