Irish minister to negotiate US tariffs next month

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon will lead a trade mission to the United States next month. This follows increased tariffs on EU goods by US President Donald Trump, including a potential 200% tariff on European alcohol imports. Heydon plans to highlight the contributions of Irish companies in the US, which employ 200,000 Americans. He expressed concern over the impact of tariffs on the agri-food and whiskey sectors and emphasized the mutual benefits of the trade relationship. He noted that there is still time to negotiate before the tariffs take effect on April 1. Heydon aims to keep dialogue open and seek opportunities for engagement, similar to previous negotiations with Canada and Mexico.