Opinion

Simon Harris: Trump is a businessman at heart. Ireland’s offering is one that speaks to him

New Irish government must launch an all-out diplomatic and trade offensive in the United States

Incoming US president Donald Trump on his last visit to Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, Co Clare, in 2023. Photograph: Cillian Sherlock/PA
Incoming US president Donald Trump on his last visit to Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, Co Clare, in 2023. Photograph: Cillian Sherlock/PA
Simon Harris
Sat Dec 28 2024 - 06:00

In 23 days’ time, Donald Trump will return to the White House after being inaugurated as US president for a second term. His victory in the 2024 election was comprehensive and his mandate is strengthened with control of the US House of Representatives and the Senate.

Mr Trump will use his government trifecta to fulfil his election promises, including promises that may affect Ireland, such as the lowering of business taxes stateside. The possibility of an international trade shock through tariffs is very real and a small, open economy like ours would be susceptible to the fallout. Ireland has no time to waste.

When I spoke to Mr Trump in November, his attitude towards Ireland and the US-Ireland relationship was notably warm and informed. He is a businessman at heart and after diplomatic discussions, our conversation naturally moved to trade and the relationship between Dublin and Washington DC. The awareness and importance placed on our bilateral relationship by the president himself must be one of Ireland’s, and a new government’s, top priorities. Waiting until St Patrick’s Day, which sees unrivalled access and has become the most successful trade mission of any country across the globe, will not be enough this coming year. The new Irish government needs to launch an all-out diplomatic and trade offensive in the United States from late January onwards.

At home we need to establish a strong and deep working relationship with Edward Walsh, the US ambassador-designate, and encourage multiple incoming trade missions from US political and business leaders.

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We are not alone. The appointment of Peter Mandelson, a former EU trade commissioner, as UK ambassador to the US is a deft move by British prime minister Keir Starmer and a statement of intent. Ireland has shown its intent towards the United States for many decades now and our networks and contacts across the US system need to be worked to the maximum effect. It is also imperative we move early and with purpose to create new ties with the thousands of decision makers that will be appointed in the coming weeks by Mr Trump.

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The chess pieces for an Irish diplomatic and trade offensive are already on the board, from our excellent embassy team in Washington DC to our consulate network across Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco, as well as our 12 honorary consulates. The State agencies of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and Tourism Ireland all have vast networks in the US, which must again be worked to maximum effect. There is no one on Team Ireland that can sit back but I know that Team Ireland is ready to move.

Ireland’s offering is one that speaks to Mr Trump as the business relationship in services and goods now flows both ways. He was very aware of that in our conversation and, again, spoke of this in a positive light. For so long the US-Ireland relationship was solely from west to east in terms of investment and the success of US multinationals basing their European headquarters in Ireland is well proven. Our ongoing strengths of access to the EU market, as well as offering a nimble and well-educated workforce, are still vital.

However, Ireland is now a top-10 investor in the United States, and we punch way above our weight in those numbers, investing more than China, Canada, India or Australia. Irish companies are opening new business in every one of the 50 states in the US and create tens of thousands of jobs. Around 500 Irish companies alone employ 100,000 people stateside. This is the story we need to tell Mr Trump’s new team.

It is also important to remember that Ireland has worked with a Trump administration before, and Mr Trump was in office during the hardest and most dangerous period of Brexit for our country. His administration worked carefully to understand the complexities of Brexit and the US interventions at that time to protect the peace process were important and astute.

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Ireland’s bilateral relationship is one part of the work but so too is our role as a member of the EU. The relationship between EU and US is indispensable for both sides. It was indispensable before the US presidential election. It remains so after that election. In the days following Mr Trump’s election, I proposed to November’s European Council that we would invite him to a US-EU summit. That may happen in the coming year at some point, but Ireland should make it our ambition to host the US president in Ireland at such a summit during our presidency of the EU in 2026. We also need to control what we can control and keep our sharp focus on competitiveness and investment in infrastructure.

There is a lot to do at home and abroad from this moment on. Whether it is forming a lasting and strong coalition government at home or forging new ties with our most important international ally, we must hit the ground running.

Simon Harris is Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael