Trump Accuses Ireland of Stealing US Industry, Criticizes EU Trade

Trump Accuses Ireland of Stealing US Pharmaceutical Industry and Tax Revenue

In a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, US President Donald Trump accused Ireland of stealing the US pharmaceutical industry and the tax revenue that should have been paid to the US treasury. This came as a blow to Martin, who had hoped to emerge unscathed from the visit marking St. Patrick's Day.

While Trump showed grudging respect for Martin, he also launched several broadsides against the EU. He repeatedly criticized Ireland's historical low-tax policies, which attracted US multinationals like Pfizer, Boston Scientific, and Eli Lilly. These companies now contribute significantly to Ireland's exports to the US, with taxes paid in Ireland on drugs consumed in the US.

Trump acknowledged the intelligence of the Irish, but claimed they had taken advantage of the US by luring away its pharmaceutical companies. He expressed his desire to "take back" the US's "wealth" and predicted an easy battle with the EU.

Trump also defended Apple, which was forced to pay €13bn in back taxes to Ireland after a successful lawsuit by the EU. He claimed that Apple had been treated unfairly and that the EU was set up to take advantage of the US.

Martin countered by pointing out that Ireland had fought against the EU case in the European court of justice to protect US tech firms like Intel, Microsoft, and Google. He also highlighted the significant purchases of US-made Boeing planes by Irish companies Ryanair and AerCap.

Trump acknowledged that he wasn't blaming Ireland but rather the EU for its actions against US companies. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the EU's trade practices, citing the lack of access for US farm products and cars in the European market.

Despite his criticisms, Trump stated that he didn't want to "hurt Ireland" but simply wanted what was fair. He expressed regret for the US's past naivety in trade deals, not just with Ireland but with other countries.

The meeting between Trump and Martin lasted just 10 minutes after an hour-long discussion for the press, highlighting the president's emphasis on public appearances.

Trump's comments came as the EU announced plans to impose countermeasures on US imports in response to the US tariffs on steel and aluminum. An EU official expressed the futility of negotiating with the US at this stage, comparing it to arguing over rotten fish.