A chara, – The US administration’s latest tariffs on European goods carry all the hallmarks of a strategy built for headlines, not outcomes. As an Irishman living in the US, I’ve seen this play out before: a noisy escalation designed to force a quick deal under pressure, all while the economic rationale remains paper-thin.
The logic seems to be: act fast, create fear, and force a retreat before anyone has time to calculate the consequences. But in this case, Europe isn’t playing along – and rightly so.
The EU’s refusal to respond in kind immediately is not indecision; it’s strategic discipline. By slowing the tempo and calibrating its response, Europe is allowing the US to feel the consequences of its own actions. And they are being felt: businesses in the US are unsettled, prices are ticking upwards, and the political backlash is gaining momentum.
This is not the moment for Europe to match drama with drama. It is, rather, a time for strategic patience. The administration’s tactic only works if the other side flinches. By refusing to flinch, the EU has changed the game entirely. And in that space, public opinion in the US is beginning to shift.
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Ireland, like the rest of the EU, stands to lose from a trade war. But if one side insists on damaging itself for effect, the wiser response is not to rush in swinging but to let gravity do its work. – Is mise,
MÍCHEÁL Ó SÍOCHÁIN,
Los Angeles,
US.
Sir, – You cannot say we weren’t warned. If the laws of economics hold, Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs will result in ruinous consequences for America and the world at large. His policies represent a radical departure from the economic orthodoxy of the past 30 years, during which globalisation and free trade elevated many countries (including Ireland) from relative poverty to economic prosperity.
But, and this is crucial, we cannot forget that this process of global integration created losers, as well as winners. Many of Donald Trump’s most fervent supporters, the farmers and the factory workers of the US rust belt, for instance, probably loathe free trade. After all, it directly contributed to their demise.
Mr Trump and his acolytes are mercantilists. They have hoodwinked their supporters into thinking that protectionism and economic nationalism make a nation rich. That might have been true in the 18th century, when markets were less integrated and trade surpluses were measured in gold. But surely it isn’t still valid now.
If his policies actually work and return America to a golden age, it will represent a feat like no other. But it will come at the expense of the rest of the world. – Yours, etc,
THOMAS CONWAY,
Ballina,
Co Tipperary.
Sir, – In responding to President Trump’s imposition of tariffs, the international community would do well to resist the urge to retaliate in kind. These measures are not grounded in sound economic thinking, nor do they aim at mutual benefit. Rather, they serve a performative agenda – an attempt to position Mr Trump as the ultimate dealmaker in a zero-sum game, where one party’s gain must be the other’s loss.
This is not diplomacy, but spectacle. Mr Trump cannot countenance being seen to lose or to have been mistaken. To respond with tariffs of our own merely plays into his hands, encouraging further provocation. He thrives on conflict and cannot admit defeat – even when the consequences of his actions become painfully clear.
Instead, other nations must hold their nerve. It may require enduring a measure of short-term economic discomfort. But in the longer run, the internal pressures within the United States, from citizens facing rising prices, farmers and workers losing markets, and the wealthy watching their fortunes shrink, will generate the kind of backlash that no tweet can spin away.
Add to this the mounting disarray within his cabinet, the growing litany of missteps, and the inevitable corruption scandals, and the illusion will begin to crumble. The image of the master strategist will fade, and it will become apparent – even to his most ardent supporters – that the emperor truly has no clothes.
To engage with him on his own terms, playing by his rules, would not only be an exercise in futility, but a dereliction of duty by governments whose responsibility is to act wisely, and in the long-term interests of their people.
Now is a time for measured resolve, not tit-for-tat reactions. We must tread carefully, but with courage and fortitude, in these momentous times. – Yours, etc,
ADRIAN TAHENY,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – The Taoiseach “deeply regrets” the tariffs announced by Donald Trump on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, 60 cent of every euro I spend on diesel goes to the Government, accompanied by 9 cent of every euro I spend on electricity and gas, 23 cent of every euro I spend on bottled water, and 33 cent of almost every euro I will inherit from my parents.
If I called all of these taxes “tariffs”, would the Taoiseach deeply regret them too? – Yours, etc,
KILLIAN FOLEY-WALSH,
Kilkenny.
Sir, – Regarding the slapping of US tariffs on Kerrygold products, “All changed, changed butterly: A terrible duty is born”. – Yours, etc,
PAUL DELANEY,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Minimum standards are there to protect the public, but Donald Trump seems to believe that they are merely unnecessary red tape that stifles enterprise, business and profit. Unfortunately his administration’s failure to insist on adherence by industry to required standards has stymied foreign sales of US products and has added to its trade deficit. In essence, the “rip-off” is self-inflicted and needs to be self-repaired. – Yours, etc,
BOBBY CARTY,
Dublin 6W.
Southwest Dublin and MetroLink
Sir, – I refer to the recent letter from Anthony Cooney, CEO Fingal Chamber, in which he argues strongly that MetroLink is essential to meet the public transport needs of North Dublin (Letters, March 22nd). Once the MetroLink, the extension of the Luas line to Finglas and the electrification of the Irish Rail network are complete, the northside of Dublin will have an excellent, high-capacity public transport network. We fully support this. Similarly and no less important than these investments are the public transport needs of southwest Dublin, the area between the Red and Green Luas line which are both rapidly approaching capacity. The population of this quadrant of the city, unserved by high-capacity public transport, is 355,000 people. The only proposal from the National Transport Authority (NTA) for this often gridlocked quadrant of the city is buses until post 2042. The Programme for Government 2025 contains the commitment “to commission a new independent feasibility study into continuing MetroLink from the city to South West Dublin”.
We believe that it is essential that MetroLink is continued towards Tallaght/Kilinarden area, to serve Rathmines, Terenure, Rathfarnham, Templeogue, Knocklyon and that any contract the government may enter into for the construction of the metro makes provision now for its future continuation to southwest Dublin as a Phase 2 project. – Yours, etc,
PAULINE FOSTER,
Secretary,
Metro South West Group,
Dublin 12.
The rights of older persons
Sir, – This week, a historic resolution was passed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. It was decided to establish an intergovernmental working group to begin drafting a long overdue treaty on the rights of older persons. The commencement of this process has been broadly welcomed not least by the UN special rapporteur on the rights of older persons – Claudia Mahler – who has been instrumental in persuading the UN Human Rights Council that the time is right. Some 44 states co-sponsored the resolution including 10 EU states. Sadly, Ireland was not among them.
Why this treaty and why now? Contrary to popular misperception, this treaty drafting process is not a reaction to the growing numbers of older persons. Still less is it due to the rising cost of old age. Instead, it is a reminder that, regardless of years, older persons are persons too and have the full range of hopes, expectations and rights in life. Just because you are older does not mean any diminution of autonomy, dignity and equal respect.
The treaty drafting process will be led by an intergovernmental working group. This basically means that whatever states wish to participate can do so. Hopefully Ireland will turn up. The resolution also calls on the intergovernmental process to encourage and support civil society organisations of older person to participate and make their voices heard. Important topics are likely to be voice, choice and control of services and supports, autonomy and legal capacity, community engagement and independent living.
Ireland played a key role in ensuring that the drafting of the treaty on the rights of persons with disabilities got under way in 2001. That treaty has had massive impact throughout the world. A similar paradigm shift is now taking place with respect to older persons and the resulting treaty should help reverse the ageism of the past and usher in a new era for older persons. Only one political party pledged support for the drafting of a treaty on the rights of older persons in the run-up to our general election in November last year (Sinn Féin). It is earnestly hoped that the Government and all political parties, as well as organisations of older persons, will now support this process and get involved. The time is right. – Yours, etc,
GERARD QUINN,
Professor emeritus,
School of Law,
University of Galway.
Israel and judicial independence
Sir, – In his defence of the Israeli government’s decision to change their judicial appointments structure, Barry Walsh fails to point out that this is taking place against a background of government actions intended to erode the Israeli legal system of its checks and balances (Letters, April 3rd).
Currently there are strident calls from Israeli government ministers to sack the attorney general, a decision has been made to limit the terms of office of certain government legal advisors, the government refuses to appoint a judicial complaints ombudsman and has failed to establish a state commission of inquiry to investigate the events leading up to the October 7th terrorist attack and the subsequent conduct of the war in Gaza.
Even more concerning is the fact that the Israeli justice minister, Yariv Levi, who chairs the judicial appointments committee, has blocked all judicial appointments until the change has been implemented. The minister has also declared that that he does not recognise the president of the supreme court and has refused to work with him, having preferred the appointment of another candidate who shared his strongly conservative views. Mr Levi has also said publicly that that there are no supreme court judges who represent his view that judges should exercise the utmost restraint in striking down Knesset legislation or government actions, even when they are patently unreasonable and worthy of challenge by civil society. In that context, the new system removes any real influence judges may have over appointments to the supreme court while granting vetoes to the coalition and opposition political parties.
In terminating the Israeli Bar Association presence on the judicial committee, the balance of power has been radically changed. It is reasonable to say that the strength of the previous system was that it was very much professionally oriented, with five politically independent judges and lawyers versus four politicians.
The Netanyahu-inspired system is now politically weighted with three independent judges versus two government ministers and four members nominated by politicians. The question is whether this is the right time to make this change at a time when Israeli society is divided and when their prime minister is arraigned before the very courts whose membership the government wishes to transform. – Yours, etc,
MARTIN McDONALD,
Terenure,
Dublin 12.
Tourism sector faces crisis
Sir, – It would be wise to ignore the arcane academic arguments about our current tourism crisis. What really matters is the experience on the ground, and I can report, as someone who has been running a holiday letting in the north of Donegal for the past 10 years, is that it is real and not an academic talking point. Our bookings, usually from northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, have dried up this year. I believe that we as a country have completely priced ourselves out of the running. – Yours, etc,
ANDREW MORROW,
Portsalon,
Co Donegal.
Remembering Mick O’Dwyer
Sir, – When Mick O’ Dwyer was training the Wicklow team I needed a Wicklow jersey for an “All Counties Night” in the US. I asked the Wicklow County Board for one. My request was ignored. I contacted Micko. The next day two jerseys arrived in the post. – Yours, etc,
MATTIE LENNON,
Blessington,
Co Wicklow.
The Irish Times – 1001 uses
Sir, – As children we all sat around the kitchen table at least once a week and made “spills”. You spread a sheet of the newspaper diagonally and starting at one corner rolled it tightly to the the far corner. You then took this long roll and criss-crossed it from the centre, like plaiting hair, to form a “spill”. The spills were used to start the fire years before firelighters were ever heard of. – Yours, etc,
URSULA HOUGH-GORMLEY,
Dublin 4.
