The Irish government is privately urging EU leaders not to ignite a trade war with the US over tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, The Irish Times reported, citing sources.
Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin has publicly said that Europe's response to US trade policy must be “considered and balanced“, and that any measures taken must be “proportionate and aimed at protecting the interests of businesses and citizens“. According to the newspaper, the Irish government is also acting privately. Several Irish ministers and other officials have said the country should tread carefully and not follow the example of European countries making harsh comments.
The head of the Irish government will interact with the US and the EU leadership on the issue of obligations. According to the newspaper, a split between EU countries could arise in the face of a sharp divergence of national interests on trade issues, signs of which have already appeared. Senior officials at the European Commission are exploring options to pressure the United States to negotiate a solution to the situation. “We are not writing anything off and are considering all possible options“, a senior source at the Commission said. The Irish Times suggests that negotiations are unlikely until EU retaliation causes serious economic damage to the US.