The Daily Star Ireland
Taoiseach Micheál Martin arrived at the White House for a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump, where discussions focused on economic ties and trade relations between Ireland and the United States. The two leaders greeted each other outside the West Wing before heading into the Oval Office for talks.
With concerns growing over trade imbalances, Martin sought to emphasize the two-way nature of investment between the two nations. He aimed to address any potential concerns from the US administration regarding Ireland’s significant trade surplus, particularly in light of Trump’s protectionist policies on tariffs and taxation.
The meeting came at a time when Trump’s economic stance has raised questions about the future of US investment in Ireland. The Taoiseach expected a major part of the discussions to center on trade, especially given Trump’s repeated comments on Ireland’s role as a production hub for US pharmaceutical companies and why so many American-made medicines are manufactured there instead of within the US.
A new 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports has added further uncertainty, with concerns that Ireland and the wider EU could be affected by future trade measures.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Ireland holds the fourth-largest trade surplus with the US, behind only China, Mexico, and Vietnam. Among EU nations, Ireland leads in surplus with the US at $85 billion, surpassing even Germany. Pharmaceutical exports from US companies based in Ireland surged by 42% last year to approximately $50 billion, a figure comparable to the value of American vehicle imports from Mexico.
The European Commission has disputed the scale of the EU’s trade surplus with the US, as statistical methods differ between the two sides. However, Trump and his administration have expressed frustration over the imbalance and have criticized the EU’s VAT system, claiming it functions as an indirect tariff on US imports.
Despite these tensions, the Taoiseach has repeatedly stressed the importance of the broader economic relationship, noting that Ireland is the sixth-largest foreign investor in the US, with Irish companies employing over 200,000 workers across the country.
Convincing Trump to avoid imposing tariffs on Ireland and the EU will require careful diplomacy. While a single meeting is unlikely to resolve these complex economic issues, the annual St. Patrick’s Day gathering provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen Ireland’s case and maintain a positive dialogue with the US administration.
During a breakfast meeting with US Vice President JD Vance, Martin praised Trump’s efforts in brokering peace in international conflicts and acknowledged the importance of continued cooperation between the two nations.
His visit to the US began earlier in the week with a stop in Austin, Texas, where he engaged with business leaders before traveling to Washington for the White House meeting. Other Irish government officials, including Tánaiste Simon Harris, are also in the US for engagements in cities such as Philadelphia and New York, underscoring the importance of transatlantic ties.
This marks Martin’s first in-person St. Patrick’s Day visit to the White House since becoming Taoiseach, as previous opportunities were disrupted by COVID-19. In 2021, pandemic restrictions prevented travel, and in 2022, a positive test result forced him to attend virtually.
Alongside trade matters, other issues such as the legal status of undocumented Irish citizens in the US and ongoing geopolitical developments, including the ceasefire in Ukraine, were expected to feature in discussions.
Following the White House meeting, Martin was scheduled to attend the Friends of Ireland luncheon at the US Capitol, hosted by House Speaker Mike Johnson, before returning to the White House for the annual shamrock presentation.
Asked whether he would extend an invitation for Trump to visit Ireland, Martin responded that the US president is always welcome and that discussions on such matters would continue.
Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly led a business delegation to North Carolina. However, O’Neill and her Sinn Féin colleagues declined to participate in engagements in Washington, citing opposition to Trump’s stance on Gaza. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn was also set to attend events in the US capital, focusing on strengthening ties between Northern Ireland and the United States.
