Thu, 13 Mar 2025

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 Ireland 'ready to work' with US to bring peace, says Martin

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has presented US President Donald Trump with a bowl of shamrocks in the White House as part of St Patrick's Day celebrations.

* Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin presented US President Donald Trump with a bowl of shamrocks in the White House as part of St Patrick's Day celebrations.
* The two leaders discussed trade and investment, with Trump raising concerns about a "massive" trade imbalance between the two countries.
* The EU has announced it will impose counter tariffs on $28bn worth of US goods from next month, in response to Trump's 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.
* Martin praised Trump's efforts to bring peace to Ukraine and the Middle East, saying "when the mighty United States of America puts its shoulder to the wheel, there is no mountain it cannot move".
* Trump said he loves Ireland and that the bond between the two countries is strong, but also raised concerns about a potential trade war.
* The US President praised Ireland's pharmaceutical companies, but expressed frustration that they have been attracted to Ireland due to favorable tax policies.
* Martin defended Ireland's tax policies, saying that they are necessary to attract investment and create jobs in a small country.
* Trump complimented Irish-American politician Joe Kennedy Jr. at the Friends of Ireland luncheon, calling him "a great friend of mine".
* The two leaders also discussed trade and investment opportunities between the US and Ireland, with Martin highlighting an increasingly "two-way" relationship.
* Democrat member of the House of Representatives Brendan Boyle criticized Trump's tariffs as making no economic sense, saying that they would hurt both the US and its allies.
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