The Taoiseach has played down the possibility of a recession in Ireland or the US as the global trade war ramps up. 

Amid plunging stock markets and Trump unable to rule out a US recession, Micheál Martin has a more positive view of the economic prospects of the US and Ireland. 

“The figures for both economies are quite robust actually, in terms of employment,” he said. 

“In the US, it’s quite strong and in Ireland, we’ve had good growth - last year, in particular in the domestic economy.  

“The forecasts so far are positive but one has to be always vigilant - and that’s why I’m here.” 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Tricentis Headquarters in Austin, Texas. Picture by: Government of Ireland.

On the prospect of tariffs on EU goods imported into the United States, Mr Martin declined to predict what would happen. 

“As you know, this has been on and off in the previous administration as well,” he said. 

“We’ll see what unfolds; dialogue is the best way to resolve these trading issues.” 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin meets the Governor of Texas Greg Abbott in Austin, Texas. Picture by: Government of Ireland

Mr Martin’s meeting with US President Donald Trump tomorrow comes amid a significant escalation in tension between the US and Canada. 

The Premier of Ontario, Canada’s largest province, has paused plans to impose tariffs on electricity exports to the US.

It would affect power supplies to around 1.5 million American households who live close to the Canadian border.

The new tariffs were due to come into effect tomorrow morning but Doug Ford U-turned after the President Trump administration threatened to further increase tariffs on Canadian goods.

Main image: Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Tricentis Headquarters in Austin, Texas. Picture by: RollingNews.ie