TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS has pledged that Europe will be “intensively prepared for what a coordinated response would be” to Trumps tariff threats. 

Speaking today Harris said “President Trump doesn’t have all the cards” when it comes to tariffs citing American businesses who regardless of Trump “want to continue to do business in Europe”. 

“Europe will respond, will respond without delay, and in a united fashion, to any tariffs that are imposed above and beyond the agreement that was reached between the US and the EU.”

Harris said Trump’s attempts to annex Greenland are “an existential moment” for the EU and “if we were to get to that point, in any manner or means, that would fundamentally alter the transatlantic relationship”.

‘Cool heads’

The Tánaiste said “nothing has factually changed” yet with regards to these threats; “it’s a time for cool heads”. 

Earlier today Trump said he would not use force to takeover Greenland as he “[doesn't] have to” in an address to the annual World Economic Forum (WEF). 

The threat of further tariffs, in Harris’ view is “an existential moment from which financial challenge can flow, rather than a financial challenge in the first instance”.

“Europe didn’t seek any confrontation or conflict with anybody, we worked really hard. We had a framework agreement in place, and we were trying to move on with a degree of certainty.”

“People worked very intensively to agree a deal that was a challenging enough pill to swallow” he continued.

Harris also said that Europe will not “carry on business as normal” if there is a “significant deviation in world order, international law, international norms”.

Related Reads

Trump tells world leaders in Davos that he 'won't use force' to take over Greenland

In full: The Davos speech by Canada PM Mark Carney that everyone is talking about

US trade war would result in significant job losses and damage to Irish economy, says Martin

With regards to the Trump administration he said “there is often a gap between what is said and what is done”. He is “working to to make sure that, actually the end position turns out to be very different to the Truth Social posts”.

St Patrick’s Day visit

Asked about the Taoiseach’s scheduled visit to the White House for St Patrick’s Day, Harris said he “always [thinks] engaging is better”. 

“The easy thing to do is say; ‘sure, I’ll take the weekend off’. That’s not leadership. It’s about turning up and engaging, and that’s what the government intends to do.”

“We visit many countries where we have points of disagreement”, he continued citing the Taoiseach’s recent visit to China. “That was important, and we saw the benefits of that to the Irish economy in terms of the beef market reopening,” said Harris.