US President Donald Trump has announced a 90-day pause for the sweeping tariffs he announced last week that were due to come into effect today, April 9.
Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday afternoon.
In his announcement, Trump said that "effective immediately," he is raising the tariffs on China to 125% "based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World's Markets."
However, he continued: "Conversely, and based on the fact that more than 75 Countries have called Representatives of the United States, including the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and the USTR, to negotiate a solution to the subjects being discussed relative to Trade, Trade Barriers, Tariffs, Currency Manipulation, and Non Monetary Tariffs, and that these Countries have not, at my strong suggestion, retaliated in any way, shape, or form against the United States, I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately.
"Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
US President Donald Trump's post on Truth Social on April 9, 2025.
While further details - including which countries will see their tariffs paused - about Trump's announcement have yet to be published, the stock markets surged in response on Wednesday afternoon.
In what he called "Liberation Day" for America, Trump announced sweeping tariffs a week ago on April 2, including 20% tariffs on the European Union, which includes Ireland.
Responding, Ireland's Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris said the announcement "represents a huge challenge to Irish exporters to the US across all sectors," while Taoiseach Micheal Martin said Trump's imposition of tariffs will "have an adverse impact."
Trump's apparent pause of the tariffs comes the same day that Ireland's Tánaiste was stateside for a series of key meetings with political and business figures, including Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and key Republican and Democratic members of the House and Senate.
Glad to be back in the United States for a series of meetings. We have a deep & enduring relationship. It is vital to keep the lines of communication open, to share insights and views and try find a way forward that enables the EU and US and the massive economic relationship soar
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) April 9, 2025
The Tánaiste learned of Trump's pause while speaking with RTÉ News on Wednesday afternoon from Washington, DC, just before he was due to meet with Secretary Lutnick.
"Obviously, I'm hearing that directly from you," the Tánaiste said about Trump's tariff pause.
"But that is very much in line with the sort of commentary I've been hearing in the United States about wanting to find a negotiated way forward.
"It's very much what myself and my counterparts were discussing in Luxembourg only a few days ago on Monday when we gathered.
"This needs to have a period of time for engagement and not to worsen the situation while that engagement is ongoing.
"Because, like I said, this isn't some sort abstract political gain, this is about people's jobs, it's about people's livelihoods, and the absolute priority of the Irish Government is protecting jobs, protecting investment, and working at a European level.
"And, I must say, in recent days, we've seen the benefit of working at a European level because we managed, in working with other countries, to make sure that whiskey and the drinks industry and the dairy industry wasn't included in the list of response measures today. That shows how reaching out, working hard, engaging with counterparts, can actually yield results.
"So, we need to see a period of calm here and we need to see serious, mature, rational debate around trade and tariffs to get this to a good place.
"Every negotiation has to see everybody come to the table with a willingness to engage in good faith and that's the message I'll be taking to Secretary Lutnik in the next few moments."
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