The Tanáiste Simon Harris is set to travel to the US next week to meet with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick following Trump’s tariffs.

But given that Mr Lutnick has previously referred to Ireland as his “favourite international tax scam”, what can the Tanáiste hope to achieve on his visit?

Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond told The Anton Savage Show that every oppotrunity to engage with the US must be taken.

“We are staying absolutely within the confines of the EU and the response will be an EU response,” he said.

“We put on the blue jersey, we put on the green jersey, but at times like this – particularly when it comes to international trade and international diplomacy – the most important thing is to talk.

“It’s to talk and use every opportunity and every angle possible, and that’s why the discussions won’t just be with the Commerce Secretary, but also at a State level.”

Photograph of Taoiseach Micheál Martin with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House as part of the annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations (12/3/2025). Photograph: Tasos Katopodis / Government of Ireland

Minister Richmond said that while it may be difficult to negotiate with the Trump administration, the diplomatic relationship must be maintained.

“You have to take every opportunity to have every discussion because when I mentioned those nine Ministers who travelled to St Patrick’s Day, it wasn’t just to Washington,” he said.

“It was talking with State legislators, Congress people, Governors who can make decisions that impact on the wider economic basis.

“We saw over 19,000 people come from Florida to Dublin last year in something that was worth €147 million in the college football classic.

“I know the ideology is strongly baked into lots of people around President Trump... however, that doesn’t mean that we can stop talking to them or that we can simply sit this one out.”

Goods from the EU will now be charged a 20% import tariff under Trump’s administration.

Main image: Simon Harris (L) and Donald Trump (R).