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| Tariffs announced on goods entering US from NI and Ireland | Tariffs announced on goods entering US from NI and Ireland |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President Trump has announced a new round of tariffs | President Trump has announced a new round of tariffs |
| Northern Ireland goods entering the US will face a 10% tariff from Thursday after President Donald Trump imposed a sweeping round of protectionist trade measures. | |
| Companies in Northern Ireland sell goods valued at around £1.5bn to the US every year, with a concentration in pharmaceuticals and industrial machinery. | Companies in Northern Ireland sell goods valued at around £1.5bn to the US every year, with a concentration in pharmaceuticals and industrial machinery. |
| Northern Irish goods will be covered by the tariff which Trump has imposed on the UK as a whole. | Northern Irish goods will be covered by the tariff which Trump has imposed on the UK as a whole. |
| Goods from the Republic of Ireland will be hit with a 20% tariff as part of measures Trump has imposed on the EU. | Goods from the Republic of Ireland will be hit with a 20% tariff as part of measures Trump has imposed on the EU. |
| Among EU countries, Ireland is the most reliant on the US as an export market. | Among EU countries, Ireland is the most reliant on the US as an export market. |
| In 2024, almost a third of the country's total exports were to the US - worth €73bn (£61bn). | In 2024, almost a third of the country's total exports were to the US - worth €73bn (£61bn). |
| Tariffs are effectively taxes applied to goods imported from other countries. | Tariffs are effectively taxes applied to goods imported from other countries. |
| Governments impose tariffs in the hope of protecting local manufacturers from international competition. | Governments impose tariffs in the hope of protecting local manufacturers from international competition. |
| 'Declaration of economic independence' | 'Declaration of economic independence' |
| Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said: "My fellow Americans, this is Liberation Day." | Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said: "My fellow Americans, this is Liberation Day." |
| He added that it will be remembered as the day American industry was "reborn" and the day America was "made wealthy again". | He added that it will be remembered as the day American industry was "reborn" and the day America was "made wealthy again". |
| "This is one of the most important days, in my opinion, of American history," he said. | "This is one of the most important days, in my opinion, of American history," he said. |
| "It's our declaration of economic independence." | "It's our declaration of economic independence." |
| First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she would speak with business and political leaders | First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she would speak with business and political leaders |
| Posting on X after the announcement, First Minister Michelle O'Neill said her priority "has always been to protect the best interests of workers, families, and businesses on the island". | Posting on X after the announcement, First Minister Michelle O'Neill said her priority "has always been to protect the best interests of workers, families, and businesses on the island". |
| "We must ensure that our all-island economy, which has grown substantially in recent years, continues to thrive to create better opportunities for all our people," she added. | "We must ensure that our all-island economy, which has grown substantially in recent years, continues to thrive to create better opportunities for all our people," she added. |
| O'Neill said she will "continue to speak with political and business leaders throughout this period of uncertainty" and prioritise "the prosperity and future of everyone who calls our island home". | O'Neill said she will "continue to speak with political and business leaders throughout this period of uncertainty" and prioritise "the prosperity and future of everyone who calls our island home". |
| Speaking earlier, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK government was "looking carefully" at the prospect of any retaliatory tariffs the EU may announce in response to the tariffs, and the impact they might have in Northern Ireland. | Speaking earlier, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK government was "looking carefully" at the prospect of any retaliatory tariffs the EU may announce in response to the tariffs, and the impact they might have in Northern Ireland. |
| In response to the announcement, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson said that "Northern Ireland remains exposed to potential EU retaliation, and local businesses must not become collateral damage". | In response to the announcement, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson said that "Northern Ireland remains exposed to potential EU retaliation, and local businesses must not become collateral damage". |
| "The government must take urgent steps to protect Northern Ireland's interests and ensure our place in the UK internal market is fully safeguarded," he said. | "The government must take urgent steps to protect Northern Ireland's interests and ensure our place in the UK internal market is fully safeguarded," he said. |
| Meanwhile, Alliance deputy leader Eoin Tennyson said following the announcement "the biggest losers will be the American people". | |
| "We must stand firm with our allies and respond in a way which protects jobs and investment, including resetting our relationship with our European neighbours," he added. | |
| UUP assembly member Steve Aiken said that tariffs were "never good news". | UUP assembly member Steve Aiken said that tariffs were "never good news". |
| He added: "Additional costs, impediments to free trade and the reimposition of a myriad of non-tariff barriers will result in economic slowdown or worse." | He added: "Additional costs, impediments to free trade and the reimposition of a myriad of non-tariff barriers will result in economic slowdown or worse." |
| 'A significant effect' | 'A significant effect' |
| Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin said he could see "no justification" for the tariffs, adding that Ireland will reflect with its "EU partners on how best to proceed". | Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin said he could see "no justification" for the tariffs, adding that Ireland will reflect with its "EU partners on how best to proceed". |
| Martin said action should be "proportionate" and "aimed at defending the interests of our businesses, workers and citizens". | Martin said action should be "proportionate" and "aimed at defending the interests of our businesses, workers and citizens". |
| "A confrontation is in no one's interests," he added. | "A confrontation is in no one's interests," he added. |
| "Ireland will be a strong advocate for an outcome which enhances the existing and strong transatlantic trading relationship." | "Ireland will be a strong advocate for an outcome which enhances the existing and strong transatlantic trading relationship." |
| Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris said the 20% tariff "could have a significant effect on Irish investment and the wider economy" and its impact was "likely to be felt for some time". | Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris said the 20% tariff "could have a significant effect on Irish investment and the wider economy" and its impact was "likely to be felt for some time". |
| "It represents a huge challenge to Irish exporters to the US across all sectors. Work is already underway to mitigate this and we are already taking concrete steps to boost our domestic competitiveness and investing in our infrastructure." | "It represents a huge challenge to Irish exporters to the US across all sectors. Work is already underway to mitigate this and we are already taking concrete steps to boost our domestic competitiveness and investing in our infrastructure." |
| He said there were "no winners when it comes to tariffs". | He said there were "no winners when it comes to tariffs". |
| How could the Trump tariffs affect Northern Ireland? | How could the Trump tariffs affect Northern Ireland? |
| Roger Pollen, from the Federation of Small Businesses NI, said the situation was "quite extraordinary" | Roger Pollen, from the Federation of Small Businesses NI, said the situation was "quite extraordinary" |
| Roger Pollen, head of the Federation of Small Businesses NI, said the full impact of the tariffs was not yet clear. | Roger Pollen, head of the Federation of Small Businesses NI, said the full impact of the tariffs was not yet clear. |
| "We're going to have to work out what's the implication of this - where's the cost going to fall, is it going to be absorbed by the suppliers or is it going to be paid by the customers in America? | "We're going to have to work out what's the implication of this - where's the cost going to fall, is it going to be absorbed by the suppliers or is it going to be paid by the customers in America? |
| "All of those sorts of things will shake out over time but at the moment it causes a lot of uncertainty which is unwelcome." | "All of those sorts of things will shake out over time but at the moment it causes a lot of uncertainty which is unwelcome." |
| He said there was a "a differential" between the 10% tariffs imposed on the UK and the 20% on the EU. | He said there was a "a differential" between the 10% tariffs imposed on the UK and the 20% on the EU. |
| "Northern Ireland is caught between the two of those so depending how the EU respond [with retaliatory tariffs], could see us being drawn into their side of the tariff balance which would be very, very unhelpful and unwelcome." | "Northern Ireland is caught between the two of those so depending how the EU respond [with retaliatory tariffs], could see us being drawn into their side of the tariff balance which would be very, very unhelpful and unwelcome." |
| Analysis: The tariffs tit-for-tat and Northern Ireland | Analysis: The tariffs tit-for-tat and Northern Ireland |
| by John Campbell, BBC News NI economics editor | by John Campbell, BBC News NI economics editor |
| We shouldn't expect that exports to the US from Northern Ireland will collapse, because very often when you're a manufacturer competing on a global stage, you're not doing that solely on price. | We shouldn't expect that exports to the US from Northern Ireland will collapse, because very often when you're a manufacturer competing on a global stage, you're not doing that solely on price. |
| It's not like there's a load of American companies who can immediately substitute what you're doing at a cheaper rate. | It's not like there's a load of American companies who can immediately substitute what you're doing at a cheaper rate. |
| What you're probably likely to see is the volume of goods that might be sold into the US will decline just because they get more expensive. | What you're probably likely to see is the volume of goods that might be sold into the US will decline just because they get more expensive. |
| There is also a Windsor Framework element to this – not on the export side because Northern Ireland goods going into the US are just UK goods. | There is also a Windsor Framework element to this – not on the export side because Northern Ireland goods going into the US are just UK goods. |
| But goods coming into Northern Ireland have to meet EU rules, so you could have a situation where the UK doesn't retaliate, doesn't impose any tariffs on US goods, but the EU would retaliate. | But goods coming into Northern Ireland have to meet EU rules, so you could have a situation where the UK doesn't retaliate, doesn't impose any tariffs on US goods, but the EU would retaliate. |
| In that circumstance, US goods entering Northern Ireland would have to pay the EU tariffs but US goods entering the rest of the UK would not have to pay the tariffs. | In that circumstance, US goods entering Northern Ireland would have to pay the EU tariffs but US goods entering the rest of the UK would not have to pay the tariffs. |
| There is the possibility that Northern Ireland importers could get a rebate of the tariff if they can show that the goods are staying within Northern Ireland. | There is the possibility that Northern Ireland importers could get a rebate of the tariff if they can show that the goods are staying within Northern Ireland. |
| How is the Republic of Ireland reacting to Trump's tariffs? | How is the Republic of Ireland reacting to Trump's tariffs? |
| US tariffs could have a more profound effect on the Republic of Ireland's economy, which is heavily reliant on the US as an export market. | US tariffs could have a more profound effect on the Republic of Ireland's economy, which is heavily reliant on the US as an export market. |
| Trump has previously indicated his discontent with the scale of manufacturing by US pharmaceutical firms in Ireland. | Trump has previously indicated his discontent with the scale of manufacturing by US pharmaceutical firms in Ireland. |
| A fact sheet published by the White House said pharmaceuticals will not be subject to the tariff. | A fact sheet published by the White House said pharmaceuticals will not be subject to the tariff. |
| However, they are likely to face tariffs in the future. | However, they are likely to face tariffs in the future. |
| Trump tariff will 'drastically' affect pharmaceutical supply, says CEO | Trump tariff will 'drastically' affect pharmaceutical supply, says CEO |
| Speaking ahead of the announcement, Gareth Sheridan, chief executive of pharmaceutical firm Nutriband, said the global supply chain could be drastically affected by the tariffs. | Speaking ahead of the announcement, Gareth Sheridan, chief executive of pharmaceutical firm Nutriband, said the global supply chain could be drastically affected by the tariffs. |
| Mr Sheridan said a quarter of Americans had "foregone treatment" because of the cost and that could rise by 25%, becoming "an extreme burden on the patient". | Mr Sheridan said a quarter of Americans had "foregone treatment" because of the cost and that could rise by 25%, becoming "an extreme burden on the patient". |