Pharma is crucial to the Irish economy, Simon Harris tells US bosses in Zoom call
US president Donald Trump has threatened separate sanctions on pharma, which could be very great in light of his stated intention to put a 30pc tariff on European goods in genral.
The online meeting was an opportunity for the Tánaiste to hear first-hand the views of the pharmaceutical sector, his officials said.
The Zoom call comes at a critical juncture in EU-US trade talks. Mr Harris said it was "a chance to gain key insights."
He added: "Ireland is clear that the integrated supply chain in pharma products between the EU and the US supports - rather than threatens - our collective transatlantic economic security.
'Ireland's position is that the treatment of pharma should be within negotiations with the EU on an agreement in principle and we have made this point on both sides of the Atlantic over the recent weeks and months,' Mr Harris said, adding that there is no doubt that pharma "is a crucial sector for our economy'.
He repeated his argument that US pharmaceutical companies are here for many reasons rather than tax treatment alone.
"They have access to a highly talented, skilled labour market, they have access too to an EU market of over 450 million people,' he said.
"The value that the industry places on this access and their bases in Ireland was clear to me from the call."
He added: "Ultimately when it comes to pharma, this is about achieving the best outcomes for patients and citizens on both sides of the Atlantic.
'It is because of that that the main focus at this stage must be on avoiding an escalatory higher tariff outcome that will be deeply detrimental to both the EU and the US."
It is fair to say that the EU "has shown considerable constraint when it comes to counter tariffs" so far, Mr Harris said.
"This h underscores our desire to reach a negotiated settlement that results in mutually beneficial transatlantic trade and investment as soon as possible before August 1,' he said.
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