Dublin (Reuters) – Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin is set to navigate a delicate diplomatic dance as he meets with Donald Trump on Wednesday, with Ireland standing out as one of the countries most affected by the U.S. president’s economic policies. The annual White House gathering to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, a tradition that dates back to the 1950s and typically involves the exchange of a bowl of shamrock, is usually a routine affair for the country of 5.4 million. However, this year’s meeting with Trump introduces a level of uncertainty, given the significant impact of U.S. multinational companies on Irish jobs, tax revenue, and exports.
Martin, who is keenly aware of the importance of the economic ties between the United States and Ireland, emphasized the thousands of jobs reliant on this relationship. He plans to highlight the 115,000 individuals employed by Irish companies in the U.S. during his six-day trip to mark Ireland’s St. Patrick’s Day holiday.
The presence of U.S. firms in Ireland, drawn in part by the country’s favorable corporate tax rate, has long been a cornerstone of the Irish economy. The workforce employed by U.S.-owned foreign multinationals in Ireland totals 302,000, contributing significantly to the country’s corporate tax revenue. Concerns loom over whether Trump will address the U.S. trade deficit in goods with Ireland, particularly driven by pharmaceutical products manufactured in Ireland by American companies and exported back to the U.S.
Among the world’s largest drug manufacturers, companies like Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Merck operate major facilities in Ireland. The trade deficit between the U.S. and Ireland hit a record 50 billion euros ($54.2 billion) last year, prompting uncertainty around potential tariffs on pharmaceutical imports and EU goods proposed by Trump. His previous pledge to lower the U.S. corporate tax rate to match Ireland’s rate of 15% poses further challenges for the Irish economy.
As the first EU leader to visit the Oval Office since Trump’s contentious meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and in light of Ireland’s recognition of a Palestinian state last year, Martin may find himself delicately balancing discussions on various geopolitical issues during the meeting.
