Ireland seeks to protect pharma role as EU and industry mull Trump tariff response

Ireland’s government remains confident in its ability to retain the country’s strategic position in pharmaceutical manufacturing, despite rising tensions between the European Union and the USA over trade policy.

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said he had recently spoken with several pharmaceutical company chief executives and emphasized that while the situation is "challenging," he believes Ireland can still help influence decisions being made in Washington. Speaking to The Irish Independent, Mr Martin said the country would work to "reduce the impacts" of any potential US actions targeting the sector.

Ireland is among the EU countries most exposed to changes in pharmaceutical trade policy, with major US companies including Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY), Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY), and AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) maintaining extensive operations in the country.