Tánaiste meets US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in Washington DC

Tánaiste Simon Harris met with United States Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in Washington DC on Thursday.

The meeting at the Department of Commerce was an opportunity to discuss the dynamic economic, trade and investment relationship between Ireland and the US.

It was also a chance to take stock on the implementation of the EU-US Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade agreed in July.

They discussed the potential of expanding the list of goods that are exempt from the baseline 15% tariff rate. Ireland has a particular interest in this as it relates to the spirits and medtec sectors. They also discussed the issue of non-tariff barriers as well as the ongoing Section 232 investigations on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.

They exchanged views on the impact of the expansion of the section 232 measures on certain steel and aluminium given the impact of these on a number of Irish manufacturers, particularly in the agritech sector.

The Tánaiste raised the recent proposal by the US to raise the cost of H1B visas applications, and noted the importance of pathways for high-skilled workers, innovators and job creators to live and work in the US.

More broadly the meeting was an opportunity to discuss the mutually beneficial economic relationship between Ireland and the US and how it can be protected and deepened in the time ahead.

The Tánaiste took the opportunity to update the Secretary on the economic impact report - Ireland and the USA: a shared economic story - which he launched today. The report shows the impact of Irish companies investing across all 50 states.

ENDS

Press Office

26 September 2025