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A TRADE WAR with the United States would be “very grave” for the Irish economy, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned.
Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon, the Taoiseach said “we are in very uncharted territory”, calling the threat of tariffs and the talk about taking over Greenland by Trump as a “very serious situation”.
“Protection of livelihoods, workers, is a key national interest in terms of how we contribute to these issues,” he said.
Trump has threatened to hit eight European allies with 10% tariffs from 1 February unless they agree to his purchase of Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory, and has refused to rule out using military force to seize the island.
Opposition TDs rounded on the Taoiseach, asking why Europe continues to bend the knee to US President Donald Trump.
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said up until now, the approach by Europe has been to avoid direct criticism of Trump and to keep praising the US president.
“Now we see where it has gotten us. Trump demanding the United States acquires Greenland and refusing to rule out using military force to do so,” she said.
Cairns said Europe needs to be united and stand strong in order for Trump to take the European Union seriously.
Martin said Europe has been “firm and robust” in relation to the territorial integrity of Greenland sovereignty, adding that the European Union has prepared various scenarios in respect of potential responses to Trump’s threats.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik also asked Martin what the impact would be on Irish households if there is a “Trump slump”.
A trade war between the US and Europe would have “very, very, very damaging consequences for us within Europe, not just in terms of job losses, which would be significant, a decline in exports, but also a real cost to the financial markets,” said Martin, adding that this would have a ripple effect on the economy, society and jobs.
“Language is cheap here, so we’ve got to be very clear-eyed about what’s at stake. And it’s very serious in terms of the transatlantic relationship,” he said.
“Are you going to stand up to the bully?” asked People Before Profit Richard Boyd Barrett, who also questioned if the Taoiseach will bring the bowl of shamrock to the White House this year for St Patrick’s Day.
Martin said his priority is protecting Irish workers. “The world is in a very, very bad place,” he said.
Boyd Barrett asked when Europe will “stop soft peddling, or worse, bending the knee before Donald Trump”.
He said Trump is a bully, an imperialist, and a threat to the world and to humanity.
Martin did not directly answer whether he plans to visit the White House for St Patrick’s Day but responded by stating:
“We are in a very serious situation and our national interest, quite frankly, is to protect Irish workers. Fundamentally, we would behave accordingly to do that, to achieve that.”
Martin added: “We’ve always had a very strong relationship with the US, irrespective of who the president happens to be or who’s in power on the Hill at any given time – and that has underpinned a very significant economic relationship which puts bread on the table of Irish workers.”
Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary said earlier today that the Taoiseach should take up an invitation to visit the White House on St Patrick’s Day if one is extended.
He said “very few countries get the opportunity” of “access to the president of the United States of America on an annual basis for a number of hours”.
“It’s a chance for him, as he did last year, to discuss face to face with the president various issues.”
Calleary said: “At whatever point those issues will be, in the middle of March, it’ll be a chance for a face to face discussion for dialogue, which is always important at any time, particularly in times of pressure.”
He added it is “really important” dialogue and communication is “kept open”.
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