Trump criticizes upon receiving the Prime Minister of Ireland bilateral trade relations

Upon his reception, US President Donald Trump criticized Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin at the White House on Wednesday, on the occasion of St. Patrick’s Day, the trade relations between the two countries.

“We have a large deficit (in the trade balance) with Ireland,” Trump said in the oval office, and he sat on his right.

The Republican billionaire affirmed that his administration “will naturally respond” to the reprisal customs duties imposed by Brussels, in response to Trump’s imposition of 25% fees on his country’s imports of steel and aluminum.

Since Ireland is a member of the European Union, these measures will affect them.

During the meeting, the 78 -year -old American President stressed that Ireland was a country “I respect a lot”, but this did not prevent him from accusing it of seizing the drug and technology industries at its low tax rates.

Trump said: “This beautiful island of five million people controls the entire American pharmaceutical industry,” Trump said.

The United States is the largest Irish export market of drugs and pharmaceutical components that are mainly manufactured by three giant American companies: Phazer, Elie Lily, and Johnson & Johnson.

Also, most giant American technology companies such as Apple, Microsoft and Google are taking their European headquarters in Ireland.

“I do not blame you. I respect what you did. But what the United States should have allowed all this to happen,” Trump said Martin.

According to the Irish Prime Minister, Trump denounced the “horrific” treatment that Apple received after the European Court of Justice ordered it last year to re -pay 13 billion euros to Ireland of delayed taxes.

According to the data of the US Economic Analysis Office, the trade deficit with Ireland last year amounted to about 87 billion dollars (80 billion euros), in the fourth largest deficit after China, Mexico and Vietnam, with the exception of the European Union as a whole.

For his part, Martin said in his talk about the relationship between Washington and Brussels, “It is going in both directions,” noting that his country will increase its investments in the United States.

The Irish Prime Minister’s visit to the White House was characterized by a relaxing atmosphere, unlike what happened two weeks ago during the visit of Ukrainian President Folodimir Zellinski.

The atmosphere increased the relaxation is that Vice President Jay de Vans – whose role was major in the outbreak of the Ukrainian President – wore on the occasion of the visit of the Irish Prime Minister to the socks of the shamrock, the green plant that symbolizes St. Patrick’s Day.

Trump looked at these socks, saying, “I try to stay on my focus, but I am very impressed with the socks of the Vice President.”