SIPTU has called on the Government to immediately establish a taskforce involving trade unions, employers groups and the relevant Government Departments and agencies to plan for the State’s response to the trade tariffs which have been threatened by the US President Donald Trump.
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Greg Ennis, said: “SIPTU represents thousands of workers across Foreign Direct Investment companies, including many major pharmaceutical manufacturers in Ireland. We are calling on the Government to assemble a taskforce of all stakeholders including trade unions, employer groups and the relevant Government Department officials in advance of the expected negative developments to be brought about by tariffs on exports from Ireland to the USA.
“Donald Trump’s election in the US is a real cause of concern for private sector workers, as Ireland exported over €72 billion, which equates to 32% of all Irish made goods produced, to the US compared to €20 billion imported from the US in 2024. Threatened EU tariffs by Trump, if imposed, could jeopardise many of the 210,000 workers employed in Ireland by US firms. While Irish firms employ approximately 100,000 in the US, we continue to have a significant dependency on US driven corporation tax, which, excluding the Apple case payment, equated to €28 billon last year.
“While companies may not easily relocate to the US because of what could prove to be a temporary tariff application, it will stymie future investment and growth. In fact, the ESRI late last week advised that the trade volatility caused by the Trump administration could see the prospect of a 3% fall in employment in the Republic over the next seven years equivalent to 80,000 jobs and a decline of €18 billion in trade.
“A trade war is in no one’s interest and I have concerns about the future stability of pharmaceutical companies who use Ireland as a base to sell medicines and drugs to the US. Out of Ireland’s €72 billion total exports to the US, drugs and medicine make up €58 billion of that figure.”
He added: “The Government must bring together all stakeholders, including worker representatives to discuss and agree a suite of measures. These must include necessary supports for workers, should Trump proceed to roll out tariffs on Irish made goods which are exported to the US.”