Ireland's Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris further responded to US President Donald Trump's 90-day pause on tariffs after meeting with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in Washington, DC on Wednesday, April 9.
Trump's announcement that he is pausing tariffs came one week after he announced sweeping tariffs, including 25% on the European Union and Ireland, in what the President described as 'Liberation Day' for the US.
Along with the 90-day pause, Trump announced "a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately." He also announced a heightened 125% tariff on China.
Harris, who was in Washington, DC for high-level meetings, including with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, learned of the pause while speaking on RTÉ News and just before his meeting with Lutnick on Wednesday.
Speaking after his meeting with Lutnick, Harris told RTÉ News that Trump's 90-day pause "is a significant period of time, whether it's enough remains to be seen."
He continued: "It is important that there's still clarifications needed.
"It looks like, for example, the higher rate on cars and steel and aluminum is likely to remain.
"10% tariffs still aren't good, tariffs are bad, so we need to be cautious in relation to this."
He continued: "But, crucially, what this has done is provide the space that the European Commission, European member states, and Ireland has been calling for - it's been a big part of our diplomatic and political effort over the last while - to try and create space for real and meaningful engagement."
Harris added that he did speak with Lutnick about the two-way relationship between Ireland and the US, "and I must say, he spoke favorably in relation to the Irish economic model and the Irish economic success to date."
Regarding Trump's mention on Tuesday that he was planning to roll out tariffs on the pharmaceutical sector, Harris said the 90-day pause, like with the other tariffs, could provide space for negotiations.
After acknowledging that the situation is "fluid," the Tánaiste said: "I think at the end of the day, as opposed to the start of the day today, I think we have to welcome the degree of relative certainty in time and space that has now been created for meaningful engagement.
"This is always what needed to happen - mature, calm discussion."
Later on Wednesday, the Tánaiste said in a statement issued via his Department that he was "pleased" to have met with Lutnick.
"It was a timely, valuable, and substantive meeting that took place shortly after President Trump’s latest announcement in respect of tariffs," the Tánaiste said.
"We discussed that announcement and the likely next steps."
Pleased to meet Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in Washington D.C. today. We discussed President Trump’s tariff announcement.
We had a valuable exchange on pharma and EU-US trade. Ireland will be a voice for calm, constructive engagement. pic.twitter.com/SBjmizhY0J
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) April 9, 2025
The Tánaiste said he welcomed Trump's "suspension of the higher tariffs announced on April 2 for a period of 90 days," adding that he knows this will "come as a relief to many businesses in Ireland."
He acknowledged that "further engagement and clarification is required between the European Commission and the administration on the detail of this."
He continued: "We also had an opportunity for a substantive engagement on pharma and I outlined the mutually beneficial role that the sector plays for Ireland and the United States.
"During the meeting, I also outlined the dynamic interconnected economic relationship between Ireland, Europe, and the United States. I conveyed our commitment through the EU to comprehensive negotiations that would address a broad range of issues.
"The meeting with Secretary Lutnick has confirmed my view that there is an openness on the part of the US to engage in such a process.
"I outlined my view that Ireland, as part of the EU, wants to play a constructive role and will continue to be a voice for calm and measured engagement in the time ahead."
The Tánaiste met with the US Secretary of Commerce on Wednesday not long after Lutnick said on the All-In Podcast: “We’re going to try and fix a whole bunch of these tax scams – Ireland is my favorite.”
He added: “What do they do? Oh, they have all of our IP (intellectual property) for all our great tech companies and great pharma companies.
"They all put it there because it's low-tax. They don’t pay us, they pay them – so that is going to end.”
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