John Whelan: Tariff-free services exports are key to growth for now

Retaining global digital players in Ireland must continue to be a priority, but more needs to be done also to develop indigenous Irish companies, writes John Whelan

The EU’s counter tariffs will begin on August 7 if the US fails to drop the Trump-threatened 30% tariff on all EU exports. 

Across the business front, particularly the digital providers, an audible sigh of relief can be noticed as it became clear that the EU’s €93bn list of countermeasure tariffs against the US does not include services trade.

The EU’s countermeasures will automatically click into force on August 7, said the European Commission, should the US fail to drop the Trump-threatened 30% tariff on all EU exports by then.