John Whelan: Ireland racks up €46bn surplus on US as tariffs loom
US president-elect Donald Trump: 'We will begin charging those that make money off of us with trade'.
Just as Donald Trump takes office, Ireland’s surplus income from trade with the US hits a record high, not the ideal timing for drawing attention to a matter that has irked the incoming US president.
It’s no secret that Trump is disgruntled by the EU’s trade surplus and has Ireland in his sights when considering additional tariffs. But he deems himself something of a dealmaker, and that could make it crucial for both the EU and Ireland to identify areas for concessions and deals.
