As it happened: Donald Trump announces 20% tariffs on EU imports to US as part of 'Liberation Day'
President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
US president Donald Trump has announced a wave of tariffs in what he is calling 'Liberation Day.'
The tariffs — otherwise known as a tax on imported or exported goods — were announced in the Rose Garden and include a 20% tariff on the EU.
You can see how the evening unfolded below.
In a statement, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he "regrets" the US decision.
The statement in full reads:
“Ireland believes in open and free trade and that the imposition of tariffs is bad for the world economy.
"I deeply regret the US decision to impose 20% tariffs on imports from across the European Union.
"We see no justification for this. More than €4.2 billion worth of goods and services are traded between the EU and the US daily.
"Disrupting this deeply integrated relationship benefits no one. Tariffs drive inflation, hurt people on both sides of the Atlantic, and put jobs at risk.
"We will now reflect with our EU partners on how best to proceed.
"As I agreed with President von der Leyen in our recent phone call, EU unity is crucial, and our response should be considered and measured.
"Any action should be proportionate, aimed at defending the interests of our businesses, workers and citizens.
"Now is a time for dialogue, and I believe that a negotiated way forward is the only sensible one.
"A confrontation is in no one's interests. Ireland will be a strong advocate for an outcome which enhances the existing and strong transatlantic trading relationship.
"As a small, open economy, and as a country that has built our prosperity on a policy of free and fair trade, there is no doubt that the imposition of tariffs by the US will have an adverse impact.
"Ireland’s priority is the protection of jobs and our economy. We are starting from a position of strength, and our economy is resilient.
"It is important that we focus on factors that we can control, including improving our competitiveness and investing in infrastructure.
"By working with Irish-owned companies, multinationals, our EU partners and bilaterally with the US, we can and will weather this storm."
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Simon Harris said that a 20% tariff on goods from the EU could have a major impact on the Irish economy.
He said that "there are no winners when it comes to tariffs - they are bad for consumers, put jobs at risk, and drive up costs and uncertainty for business".
"The Government has been actively preparing for this possibility for some time. As we have been doing all along, we will seek to control what we can control and influence what we can influence while drawing on unity with our EU partners as our greatest strength.
"Together with my government colleagues, my officials and the EU we will be reviewing the situation and the best way to respond in the coming hours and days. The EU will have to respond in a proportionate manner which protects our citizens, our workers and our businesses.
"The EU and Ireland stands ready to find a negotiated solution with the US. Negotiation and dialogue is always the best way forward.
"I must be honest tonight that a 20 per cent blanket tariff on goods from all EU countries could have a significant effect on Irish investment and the wider economy and the impact of what has been announced is likely to be felt for some time."
CEO of the employers' group IBEC Danny McCoy said that the Government and EU must find a "negotiated settlement" with the US.
He said that the US announcement could hit overall exports in the short term.
"While this will present challenges for a number of sectors, we anticipate that the new tariffs will result in a net overall export impact of around 2–3% in the short-term.
"Thankfully, we are in a position of economic strength, which will provide the necessary cushion to absorb slower growth and invest in diversifying market opportunities. To protect the economy and jobs we can draw on what worked in the Covid and Brexit measures.
"The most important domestic response is to support enterprises most affected by the tariffs.
"This should include time-bound short-time working supports to help keep employees connected to businesses experiencing demand shocks, as well as other measures to enhance productivity and access to new markets."
Mr Trump said that his predecessor Joe Biden had a "special relationship" with China and was unable to overturn the American trade deficit with that country.
He went on to discuss his electoral victory last November and the fall in the price of eggs last week and the price of groceries.
He said that the term groceries was "beautiful", representing "different things in a bag".
Mr Trump criticised his predecessor for the inflationary cycle he inherited and went on the criticise judges who have frustrated his attempts at mass deportations.
He said that America now had "the best border we've ever had". He said he wants people to come to America legally.
The president committed to the "largest tax cuts in history" and to no cuts to social protection programmes.
Mr Trump said that American companies had already committed to "build, build, build" in a bid to avoid tariffs.
He said that Apple has said it would spend $500 billion building in the US, along with SoftBank, Oracle and OpenAI. Chipmakers Nvidia and TSMC have also committed to building in the US, Mr Trump said.
Pharma companies Johnson & Johnson and Ely Lily, which have operations in Ireland, have also committed to building manufacturing facilities in the US, Mr Trump said.
Apple has 6,000 employees here. Johnson and Johnson have 6,000 and Eli Lily has 3,500.
The announcement has prompted a call for a measured response.
Ian Talbot, CEO of Chambers Ireland and Secretary General of ICC Ireland said that there must be a focus on competitiveness and strategic trade engagement to mitigate any adverse economic impact.
“While the tariffs present immediate challenges, it is essential that Ireland and the EU respond with calm and resolve,” said Mr Talbot.
“To navigate these challenges effectively we should prioritise strategies that (a) enhance our competitiveness and (b) strengthen our trade engagement, rather than escalating tensions.
“Market access must now be a key focus, which means helping businesses understand the regulatory and logistical requirements they must address to succeed in trade.
"We need to utilise the advantages of the Single Market and our access to the UK market while continuing to diversify into new international markets. Investment will be essential to ensure that businesses have the support to enter and expand in other markets.
Mr Trump announced, effective at midnight tonight, a 25% tariff on all foreign-made cars, saying that US manufacturers like Ford and General Motors were "not allowed" into foreign markets, but that Toyota sold a million cars in the US.
He said that American farmers had been "brutalised" by other countries and announced a ban on Australian beef.
He said that the North American Free Trade Agreement had cost America 90,000 factories and that the country can now no longer produce the antibiotics it needs, no longer produces ships or electronics and instead imports those products.
Mr Trump said that his tariffs would not be "a full reciprocal" because he was "so kind".
Tariffs on the EU will be 20%.
He said that the EU had "ripped us off" and was "pathetic".
The imposition of tariffs will lead to a new American "golden age", US president Donald Trump has said.
Speaking from the Rose Garden at the White House Mr Trump announced sweeping new tariffs which he says will "reclaim America's destiny".
He said that his plan will "make America wealthy again" after generations of "pillaging and rape" by foreign countries "both friend and foe".
Mr Trump said that he had been "waiting a long time" for "Liberation Day", where he signed an executive order bringing forth reciprocal tariffs.
In a typically unfocused speech, Mr Trump said that his plan would reignite "the American dream" and was a "declaration of economic independence".
He added that other nations had become wealthy at the expense of America and that he would use the "trillions and trillions" of dollars that would "come roaring back" into the economy to reduce taxes and pay down the national debt.
"This will be the golden age of America," he said.
Mr Trump said that foreign nations had created "non-monetary barriers" on US products by subsidising exports, placing VAT on US products and manipulating currencies.
The new tariffs are due to take effect immediately after Trump announces them.
But for them to be implemented, the administration has to publish an official notice on the Federal Register.
That is expected to take place within 24 hours of the announcements.
The ESRI and Department of Finance have jointly warned that the imposition of tariffs could lead to between 50,000 and 80,000 jobs not being created in Ireland over the medium term.
The Government has also warned that possible income tax cuts may be delayed due to the economic shock from export levies.
Speaking in the White House yesterday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Mr Trump is looking to remake the US as a manufacturing powerhouse.
“Our country has been one of the most open economies in the world and we have the best consumer base hands down,” Ms Leavitt said.
“But too many foreign countries have their markets closed to our exports. This is fundamentally unfair. The lack of reciprocity contributes to our large and consistent trade deficits that have gutted our industries and hollowed out key work forces. But those days of US, beginning tomorrow, being ripped off, are over.”
What exactly is a tariff?
Put simply, a tariff is a tax on imported or exported goods.
There is little difference between a conventional tax and a tariff as far as we, as consumers, are concerned.
Our consumer expert Caitríona Redmond explains more here.
The tariff announcements are set to come just hours after reports that Donald Trump has told members of his Cabinet and other close contacts that tech billionaire Elon Musk will soon step back from his cost-cutting government role.
Politico reported that both Trump and Musk decided in recent days that Musk will soon return to his businesses, but gave no specific date.
The introduction of US tariffs are the “most serious issue” faced by the Irish economy in a long time, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.
The Government is preparing for a wave of US tariffs to be introduced by US president Donald Trump later today, with an expected announcement at 9pm Irish time.
“This is, without question, the most serious issue facing the Irish economy in a long time and it’s clear that the scale of these tariffs will be very, very significant in a European context,” Mr Martin said, speaking in the Dáil.
The Taoiseach said that negotiations between the EU and US were “key” and that it was important to get to a sustainable “landing zone”.
