US President Donald Trump has criticized the European Union (EU) and Ireland, accusing them of taking advantage of his country in trade. During a meeting with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the White House, Trump claimed that the EU was created to exploit the US economy.
Trump specifically mentioned the concentration of US pharmaceutical companies in Ireland, citing the country’s lenient corporation tax laws as the reason. He stated that the US should not have allowed this to happen and expressed frustration with the situation.
However, Martin countered Trump’s allegations, emphasizing that the relationship between the two countries is reciprocal. He noted that Irish companies based in America create thousands of jobs and that Ireland buys more aircraft from Boeing than any other foreign customer.
The meeting comes as Trump has been engaging in trade disputes with US allies and adversaries alike. The US president has slapped tariffs on imports from various countries, including Canada and China.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/03/13/european-defense-ministers-show-united-front-in-support-for-ukraine