Ireland finds Trump's 50% EU tariff threat 'enormously disappointing'

ISTANBUL

Ireland's taoiseach (prime minister) expressed his "disappointment" with the US President Donald Trump's latest 50% EU tariff threat on Friday.

"US President Trump's suggestion today that he is recommending a 50% tariff on EU imports from 1 June is enormously disappointing," Micheal Martin wrote on X.

Stressing that tariffs are "damaging" to all sides, Martin called for a "negotiated outcome" as the "best possible" result.

"Tariffs at the level suggested would not only push prices up, they would grievously damage one of the world's most dynamic and significant trading relationships, as well as disrupting wider global trade. We do not need to go down this road. Negotiations are the best and only sustainable way forward," he further said.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof also reacted to the newly proposed tariffs during a news briefing, underlining that they would respond "calmly."

"Our choice is to respond calmly—at least calmly, and I say this also on behalf of the European Union in this case—calmly and with restraint," Schoof said.

Pointing to the Dutch investments and their "incredibly important" contribution to employment in the US, he expressed his "assumption" that these would lead to a "manageable" situation for everyone.

"As far as the Netherlands is concerned, the best outcome remains a 0% tariff. Perhaps illusory, but the Netherlands benefits from open trade, as few tariffs as possible," Schoof further said.

EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic expressed the bloc’s “commitment” to a deal that works for both sides and reaffirmed that the European Commission was “ready” to work in “good faith.”

“EU-US trade is unmatched and must be guided by mutual respect, not threats. We stand ready to defend our interests,” Sefcovic wrote on X.