Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
US state secretary Marco Rubio appeared to play down the impact of US global tariffs, saying “economies are not crashing – their markets are reacting to a dramatic change in the global order in terms of trade” (14:05).
Ireland reported feeling first effects of US tariffs, with companies putting staff on reduced hours starting from this weekend, as the impact filters through to businesses (16:19) amid on-going debates about the EU’s response and whether it should target the US big tech giants, among others (12:21).
Speaking after a Nato ministerial summit in Brussels, he also signaled Washington’s growing impatience with Russia, as he said we should know within “weeks” if Moscow was serious about the prospect of peace in Ukraine, adding “president Trump is not going to fall into the trap of endless negotiations” (14:16). Earlier, French and British foreign ministers also accusing Russia of dragging its feet (13:54).
Rubio also indirectly clashed with Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen’s defence on Greenland (10:29), insisting the decision belongs to the Greenlanders, and the US was ready to partner with them at an opportune moment (14:09).
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte faced an awkward press conference as he repeatedly declined to answers journalists’ questions on US policies on trade, Russia and Greenland, seemingly to avoid a public disagreement with US president Donald Trump (13:41).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at [email protected].
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Trump's tariffs start to bite with Irish companies looking to reduce staff hours
The head of Ireland’s big business federation has said some companies are going to start putting staff on reduced working hours from this weekend as Donald Trump’s tariffs start to bite.
At the same time the country’s deputy prime minister has said he did not think the majority of EU countries would support France’s desire to retaliate by taxing US tech.
The first tranche of the baseline 10% tariff will come into force on all imports from one minute past midnight US eastern time on Saturday with the higher “reciprocal tariffs” kicking in next Wednesday 9 April.
“There is an immediacy for firms this weekend who know that their demand is likely to drop quite substantially and their workers will need to go on short time working,” said Danny McCoy, head of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation after a meeting between business leaders and the taoiseach and his deputy Simon Harris as government buildings on Friday.
He is calling for immediate government supports along the lines of those put in place during Brexit and covid.
“The [change] in demand will be immediate for products of firms that are selling fast moving consumer goods like our drinks industry for instance and as we stand there is no government support,” he added.
EU foreign and trade ministers meet in Luxembourg on Monday and Ireland’s agriculture minister Martin Heydon was travelling to Washington for talks on the same day.
The European Commission has said everything remains on the table in terms of tariff retaliation but Simon Harris, the deputy PM, said France’s plan to punish big tech was not the priority.
“I don’t believe it’s the majority view of the European member states. I don’t believe it’s the pressing position of the European Commission, not by a long shot,” he said.
Updated
