Taoiseach Micheál Martin has told Irish businesses to hold their nerve in the face of tariff threats from the White House.

The Taoiseach was speaking in Texas ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump tomorrow.

Today, Micheál Martin is going to meet state legislators in Austin, Texas, before catching a flight to Washington DC.

Tonight, there is a reception for St Patrick's Day at the embassy in Washington DC.

After that, the Taoiseach is straight into preparations for his big meeting tomorrow with Donald Trump.

Micheál Martin is also meeting JD Vance tomorrow morning.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin (second right) in a meeting with Governor of Texas Greg Abbott. 10/03/2025 Image: Alamy

Yesterday, those on the ground in Texas got a good sense of how he's going to approach these meetings.

By saying that actually, when you factor in services, there isn't a trade deficit between Ireland and the USA, the Taoiseach is aiming to reframe the economic argument.

It’s expected he will also use the argument that here's a whole lot of spending that doesn't fall into the data about how those deficits are actually captured - things like plane purchases from the likes of Ryanair, who have paid €40 billion to Boeing.

Interestingly, there is no sense of panic from the Taoiseach or his team, despite, obviously, a healthy degree of nervousness about meeting Donald Trump - particularly at the moment.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin (left) is interviewed by Stephanie Mehta, CEO of Mansueto Ventures at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas. 10/03/2025 Image: Alamy

However, the Taoiseach’s team think they have a good game plan going in for how to handle him and think that he is pretty well disposed to Ireland.

Of course, that can always get turned on its head when it comes to Trump and a meeting at the White House.

Going into the Trump and Martin meeting tomorrow, the Taoiseach’s team are pretty confident it's going to be a positive one.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin attending the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, as part of his week long visit to the US. Picture date: Monday March 10, 2025.