Tánaiste Simon Harris will tell a trade forum that US tariffs of 10% on exports from Ireland will be the “new normal” but that efforts are continuing to agree zero for zero taxes in some key areas.
The meeting in Dublin takes place a week before the scheduled lifting of a pause on higher tariffs by the US president Donald Trump.
The Government’s forum is comprised of State agencies, business groups, unions and senior ministers.
At present most Irish exports to the US now have tariffs of 10%.
But there are significant exceptions including Ireland’s pharmaceuticals sector and computer chip manufacturers.
Those arrangements were in place temporarily pending a trade deal between the US and EU but they could now become permanent.
The EU is reportedly negotiating to keep some sectors free of tariffs and accepting 10% duties on other goods.
Today’s meeting will also hear an update on the new strategy for the computer chip industry.
The forum will also receive an economic assessment of impact of tariffs from Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe.
There will also be discussion about how Irish companies can diversify into new markets.
Ahead of the meeting, the Tánaiste said Ireland needed an agreement “that has zero-for-zero or as near as possible in as many areas as possible”.
“We cannot ignore the fact that every single day the trading relationship between the EU and the US is worth more than €4 billion,” Mr Harris said.
