Donald Trump launched a new attack on the EU at a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin at the Oval Office.
The American president said he did not want to “do anything to hurt Ireland”, but added that trade relations between countries should be focused on “equity”.
It comes after the president 25% prices imposed on global imports in steel and aluminum In the United States – inviting Canada to announce reprisals on American products worth $ 29.8 billion (16 billion pounds Sterling) from tomorrow and the EU to impose accounting rates at 26 billion euros (22 billion pounds sterling) of American products from April 1.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer said he was “disappointed” to see the president impose global steel and aluminum prices and promised “Keep all the options on the table“In the way the United Kingdom would react.
During Mr. Trump’s meeting with Mr. Martin, the president raised the “massive” commercial imbalance between the two countries and said that Ireland “took advantage of the United States.
He said the EU was “created to take advantage of the United States”.
Questioned by the Irish Sky News correspondent Stephen Murphy, if Ireland also took advantage of it, Trump replied: “Of course, they are.”
He added: “I have great respect for Ireland, for what they did and they should have done what they did. But the United States should not have been able to happen. We had stupid leaders, we had leaders who had no idea.
“Suddenly, Ireland has our pharmaceutical companies, this beautiful island of five million people has within its reach of the American pharmaceutical industry.”
Last policy: Starmer promises to “keep the options on the table”
Trump said he loved Ireland, where he has a golf course – but said he wanted the United States to be “not so stupid for so many years, not only with Ireland, with everyone”.
Many American pharmaceutical companies have created their manufacturing facilities in Ireland due to its low corporate tax rate of 12.5%.
Irish companies then pay fees for royalty to American mother companies so that they can use formulas to make products – which means that Ireland could be the most difficult member by the EU by the 25% tariffs of Trump.
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“ I would have imposed 200% of prices ”
Trump said that if he had been president when these companies began to move to Ireland, he would have imposed a 200% rate so that they could not sell anything in the United States and they would have “stayed here”.
The president said he would like to see American pharmaceutical companies return to the United States, but expected Mr. Martin “to fight on this issue”.
He also told Sky News that he would place prices on EU cars “absolutely”.
Find out more:
What are Trump’s prices and how will they affect the United Kingdom?
The man that Canada sends to fight Trump
Trump accused the previous presidents of having “lost major segments” of the American economy and said that the EU “treats us very badly”, referring to a recent decision against Apple.
“They were not fair. They continue our businesses and earn massive sums. They continued Apple, won $ 17 billion and they use it for other reasons, I assume, to manage the European Union,” he said.
“So I do not hit him. They do what they should do, perhaps for the European Union, but it creates bad will – and as you know, we will make reciprocal prices so that everything they charge us, we invoice them. No one can complain about it.”
“ Great honor ” to meet the Irish taoiseach
Despite his criticism from Ireland, Trump said it was a “great honor” to have Taoiseach in the White House.
He said that the United States had “huge” trade relations in Ireland “and that it will only be strengthened.”
The American chief said that his personal relationship with Mr. Martin was “very, very strong and very, very good” when he thanked him for coming to Washington DC to celebrate Saint-Patrick.
He added that Mr. Martin did not have “nervous air” about the subject of prices at their meeting.
Taoiseach reminds Trump Irish investment in the United States
The Taoiseach welcomed Mr. Trump’s work on “peace initiatives” and said that the two countries had a “very good relationship, a historical relationship”.
But, referring to the prices imposed by Mr. Trump, Mr. Martin said: “It is a double -meaning street. We invest much more in America.”
He said he understood where Trump came from, but added that Irish companies Ryanair and the Aercap aircraft rental company “buy more Boeing aircraft” than anyone outside the United States.
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