Trump’s tariff threats puts 80,000 Irish jobs at risk

The tariffs, expected next month, means 80,000 Irish jobs could be in jeopardy.

Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, revealed that President Trump’s threat of ‘significant’ tariffs on EU goods could put thousands of jobs in jeopardy.

It is expected that the tariffs will be put in place early next month, despite the EU's efforts to prevent them.

Minister Donohoe said that in a ‘worst case scenario’, the tariffs could affect thousands of current, and even future jobs here in Ireland.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1 yesterday, he explained that the EU is continuing to negotiate with the US in an effort to prevent the tariffs.

"The balance of probability… appears to indicate there will be significant tariffs of some scale applied in April," he stated.

The Minister continued to say in the position of an ‘economic shock’, tax cuts would not be the way to go.

He added that should the US does ‘take very broad measures’, the EU and Ireland will need to respond.

Finance spokesman for Sinn Féin, Pearse Doherty, warned: "What the ESRI report has said very clearly is that if America imposes tariffs, there will be an impact in terms of jobs, the economy and the public finances.

"And if Europe reciprocates, that impact will be worse."