PILLAGE IDIOT..

20% tariff exports on Irish to United States | 'Significant effect on Irish economy' warns the Tanaiste | Taoiseach: No justification for it & people will hurt | | Pharma fears not realised for now...but pain could be on way

- LOUISE BURNE

IRISH exports entering the US will be slapped with 20 per cent tariffs under Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" announcement - as he claimed America "has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered" by other nations.

There is now growing concern that a trade war could break out between the European Union and the United States. If the EU does introduce retaliatory tariffs on goods being imported from the US, it could lead to prices rising for Irish consumers.

As fears over Ireland's pharmaceutical sector rise, Mr Trump said that the industry would be coming "roaring back" to the US.

He also plans separate import taxes on pharmaceutical drugs, lumber, copper and computer chips, which could have major fallout for Ireland.

However, the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland will be immune from tariffs for now, as a fact sheet published by the White House stated "some goods will not be subject to the Reciprocal Tariff," including pharma.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said last night that he could see "no justification" for the tariffs, while Tanaiste and Trade Minister Simon Harris said that it could "have a significant effect on Irish investment and the wider economy".

Mr Martin said: "I deeply regret the US decision to impose 20 per cent tariffs on imports from across the Euro-pean Union. We see no justification for this.

"More than €4.2billion worth of goods and services are traded between the EU and the US daily.

"Disrupting this deeply integrated rela-tionship benefits no one. Tariffs drive infla-tion, hurt people on both sides of the Atlantic, and put jobs at risk.

"We will now reflect with our EU partners on how best to proceed. As I agreed with President von der Leyen in our recent phone call, EU unity is crucial, and our response should be considered and measured.

"Any action should be propor-tionate, aimed at defending the inter-ests of our businesses, workers and citizens."