Trump’s tariffs. Now it’s the Republic of Ireland’s turn. ☘️

What did Ireland do now? 🙄

It’s in the news tonight.

Donald Trump has criticised Ireland for using its tax policies to lure away US companies, as he threatened to escalate his trade war with the EU.

Speaking the Oval Office next to the Irish premier, Micheál Martin, he took aim at Ireland’s use of its tax system to attract pharmaceutical and other companies.

He said: “We do have a massive deficit with Ireland because Ireland was very smart. They took our pharmaceutical companies away from presidents that didn’t know what they were doing and its too bad that happened.”

Mr Trump said that had he been president when Ireland began to use its tax system to attract US companies, he would have retaliated.

He said: “When the pharmaceutical companies started to go to Ireland, I would have said that’s okay if you want to go to Ireland I think that’s great, but if you want to sell anything into the United States, I’m going to put a 200pc tariff on you so you’re never going to be able to sell anything into the United States.

“You know what they would have done? They would have stayed here.

“I have great respect for Ireland and what they did. And they should have done just what they did, but the United States shouldn’t have let that happen.”

He actually is bonkers. I swear he doesn’t know what’s going to come out of his mouth when he opens it.

That’s part of his charm. He gets things done Casdon.
He’s a disruptor.

He went on to say this afternoon:

Donald Trump stepped up his criticism of the EU this afternoon, pledging to win his trade war as he recited his own experience dealing with European red tape.

Speaking next to the Irish premier Micheál Martin, he said: “I have a big property in Ireland that you [Mr Martin] know well, [one of] the most highly rated hotels in Europe.”

He said: “I was going to do a project there, a big expansion of the place. This was when I was a civilian, before the presidency ... and I got the approvals from Ireland so quickly; they were so professional.

“I was told something that bothered me. You also have to get approval from the European Union. I said: why do I have to go to the European Union to expand a hotel that’s in Ireland? They said, well, that’s the way it is. I said: well, shouldn’t that go fast? They said: no, it’ll take at least seven years. You gave me the approval in about four weeks.”

He told Mr Martin: “Think about how bad that is for your country. So that was my first experience with the European Union and I dropped the project.”

It came as Mr Trump pledged to win the trade war with the EU. “They know what they have to do,” he said. “This is not going to be a tough battle.”

I like that Trump doesn’t accuse the Republic of Ireland, he applauds them for taking the opportunity …. while accusing Biden and Obama of allowing it to happen.

Mr Martin disagreed with him.
Martin told President Trump that foreign investment is a two-way street, adding that Ireland is "investing a lot more in America now".
Trump doesn't like disagreement.

I think he suffers from clinical paranoia.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

That’s part of his charm. He gets things done Casdon.
He’s a disruptor.

I wouldn’t say he had charm.

He’s a bully more like.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I like that Trump doesn’t accuse the Republic of Ireland, he applauds them for taking the opportunity …. while accusing Biden and Obama of allowing it to happen.

The migration of pharma companies to Ireland started in the early 2000s. George W Bush was president until 2009.

Trump did nothing to bring pharma back to the USA between 2017 and 2021. In fact, he did a deal with Canada to import drugs because he was annoyed that big pharma (and big tech companies interestingly) were 'against him' in his election campaign.

Grandmadinosaur

FriedGreenTomatoes2

That’s part of his charm. He gets things done Casdon.
He’s a disruptor.

I wouldn’t say he had charm.

He’s a bully more like.

He has no discernible talents. Voldemort was a disruptor too, but not a force for good.

He is completely mad. Power mad.

Casdon

He actually is bonkers. I swear he doesn’t know what’s going to come out of his mouth when he opens it.

😁

I surprised he used words of more than one syllable.

Phar-ma-ceu-ti-cal!
Wow! Nice!

I'm 😂😂😂

Oh I suppose time will tell.
America elected him to do this. Put America first. He’s looking after their interests.
Judge him after his tenure.
It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Dominic Cummings was a disruptor.

I don't think charm and Trump belong in the same sentence, FriedGreenTomatoes2
Sorry.

Donald's make up just isn't getting any better.

I've decided he must apply his foundation through the peep hole of a balaclava. The removal of said hat possibly explains his hair do.

I have thought for a long time that the one area that countries should not play tariff games with are drugs/medicines/pharma.

These are vital to peoples health sometimes life saving. The EU has not applied tariffs to drugs/medicines, both for these reasons and also in terms of "world health" pricing for poorer countries.

This is an area Trump should leave alone for these reasons. This is not disruption, this is being prepared to stop drugs for the most serious conditions for political gamesmanship and potentially sacrificing your own citizens.

Mote and more Trump voters are coming out of the woodwork saying this isn't acyually what they voted for.

No one in this country voted for prices to rise for goodness sakes.

Trump has always said it will be worse in the short term.
Voters were told this.
And still elected him. He does what he says he will.
Rare in a politician.

Wyllow the EU are considering exactly that re drugs.
America relies on them heavily to make up their shortfall. Ursula von de Leyen is considering playing hardball.
No surprise really.
She tried it with the Covid jabs but changed her mind 48 hours later so she has form.

Charm !!! I ve heard it all now …. madness yes
Are you having a joke FGT Do you really admire this dangerous, power hungry, orange idiot
Even Americans are beginning to realise what they have done

The sainted EU eh?

“The Telegraph revealed this week that EU governments were considering plans to go even further and “weaponise” life-saving medicines.

Antibiotics, radiation therapies and pacemakers are among over 200 products identified because the US is dependent on EU supplies to meet domestic demand.”