Government devises action plan to mitigate Trump's tariffs

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has also been ramping up engagement with the EU noting a “useful and constructive” call with president of the EU commission, Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

With 48 hours to go before Donald Trump announces a raft of tariffs, the Government will now up efforts to mitigate the impact of what could be one of the biggest hits to the Irish economy since the financial crash.

The tariffs are expected to be universal across all European exports into the US and to be in the region of 20%. They are also expected to be followed by further additional tariffs on key sectors, particularly for Ireland, such as pharmaceuticals.