Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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189. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking to offset the potential negative impacts of a trade war with the US on the life sciences sector in Ireland, in particular the pharmaceutical industry; and the engagements he has had with workers and employers, and the representatives, in this regard. [26755/25]

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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215. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which he is working with stakeholders to understand the potential impacts on Ireland of EU countermeasures on the US trade measures. [27442/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 215 together.

Ireland’s consistent position remains that we need a substantive, calm, measured and comprehensive dialogue on trade with the United States. This is also the position of the EU.

The suspension of the 20% so called reciprocal tariffs on the EU by the US, along with the EU also pausing its own rebalancing measures, has created the conditions for meaningful negotiations, which we hope will be successful. Ireland, as part of the EU, wants to play a constructive role and will continue to be a voice for calm and measured engagement in the time ahead. At the same time, we understand the need for the EU to undertake further internal preparations in case negotiations are unsuccessful. This is a sensible approach.

On 8 May, the Commission published a new draft list of proposed of re-balancing measures against the US. The list concerns imports from the US to the EU worth €95 billion, covering a broad range of industrial and agricultural products. Pharmaceutical products are not included. A public consultation is open until 10 June and we urge stakeholders to participate directly in it. My Department is also coordinating across Government to understand Irish sensitivities.

With regard to the life sciences specifically, my officials and I have engaged intensively with stakeholders, including through the Government Trade Forum, to understand the potential impacts on the sector of US tariffs and EU re-balancing measures, if they were to be put in place.

I have on several occasions raised the mutually beneficial and interconnected nature of the Irish, European and American pharmaceutical industry with Commerce Secretary Lutnick and the US Administration. I have also conveyed our sensitivities regarding this sector to the European Commission as well as other EU partners. I believe that the strategic importance of the life sciences sectors to the EU as a whole is well understood.

Currently, Irish exporters are subject to additonal10% tariffs and we must be up front that, while the negotiations between the EU and US are underway, there are still risks of further sectoral tariffs, including on pharmaceuticals.

The Government and its agencies will continue to support Irish businesses as they navigate this new trading environment. The forthcoming Action Plan on Market Diversification, which is being developed jointly by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is a key part of the Government response to current market turbulence and will assess the supports available for Irish businesses to diversify their market outlets and supply chains.

I welcome engagement between President von der Leyen and President Trump over the weekend. I note the federal court ruling in the US that some of the tariffs imposed by the US administration exceed presidential authority and that the US administration is appealing this ruling. Much uncertainty remains and a number of points remain unclear. What is clear however is that the EU and Ireland will continue to do everything possible to reach a negotiated mutually beneficial agreement with the US.