Tánaiste Simon Harris has had a “constructive and engaging call” with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
Mr. Harris spoke to Howard Lutnick by phone on Monday evening. Harris told Lutnick that Ireland values the economic relationship between the two countries as well as the U.S. and the EU.
Both men exchanged views on trade policy and the transatlantic economic relationship and plan to meet in person soon.
The phone call comes at a difficult time for EU-U.S. economic relations with the new administration in Washington heightening tensions over trade tariffs, this amid fears in Ireland that any repercussions could have an adverse effect on Irish jobs and the economy.
Mr. Lutnick has been critical of Ireland’s corporation tax system which has attracted American companies and multinationals to Irish shores, employing tens of thousands of people.
Speaking only last week, Mr. Lutnick said Ireland was his “favorite tax scam."
Speaking on the All-In podcast, he said: “We’re going to try and fix a whole bunch of these tax scams. Ireland is my favorite.”
He added: “They have all of our IP for our great companies and great pharma companies. They all put it there because it’s low tax and they don’t pay us. They pay them (Ireland). So that’s got to end.”
Responding to those claims, Mr. Harris said: “Ireland deeply values its economic partnership with the U.S. and the economic relationship between the EU and the US.
“It is very much a two-way relationship that has strengthened over each generation and one that is based on mutual respect and one that creates significant jobs and investment in both Ireland, the U.S. and the EU.”
Mr. Harris said that both Ireland and the U.S. have benefitted economically from the relationship between the two countries.
