# Ireland: Tariffs, Trade & U.S. Exposure

Ireland: America imported $133.6B in goods from Ireland in 2025 (+29.4% in one year) and sold it $19.3B; the latest U.S. tariff action toward it (2026-04-06) is "EU treatment preserved in expanded metals tariffs", in effect; it ships 12 essential goods finished to American shelves (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/countries/ie
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Country code: IE
- Region: Europe
- Capital: Dublin
- Government: parliamentary republic
- Population: 5M
- GDP: $577.4B
- U.S. imports from Ireland, 2025: $133.6B
- Change in imports in one year: +29.4%
- U.S. imports 2026 through August: $38.8B
- U.S. exports to Ireland, 2025: $19.3B
- Trade data source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade in Goods (customs basis)
- Tariff treatment: as an EU member, the EU bloc posture
- Reciprocal tariff assigned under EO 14257 (terminated 2026-02-24): 20%
- Section 232 sectors: Autos, Wood
- Section 301: no
- Tariff status verified: 2026-04-06
- HTS revision: Revision 9
- Latest tariff action: 2026-04-06: EU treatment preserved in expanded metals tariffs (in effect)
- Essential goods shipped finished to the U.S.: 12
- Supply-map inputs and goods: 12 inputs feeding 24 essential American goods
- Coverage: full

## What you buy that Ireland makes: U.S. imports, 2025

| Category | What it is | Value | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pharmaceutical preparations | medicines and pharmacy items | $107.9B | 80.7% |
| U.s. goods returned, and reimports |   | $6.2B | 4.6% |
| Cell phones and other household goods, n.e.c. | cell phones and home electronics | $6.0B | 4.5% |
| Medicinal equipment | medical devices and equipment | $3.7B | 2.7% |
| Other foods |   | $2.5B | 1.9% |
| Semiconductors | semiconductors and chips | $2.1B | 1.6% |
| Industrial machines, other |   | $456M | 0.3% |
| Computers | laptops, desktops, monitors | $415M | 0.3% |
| Minimum value shipments |   | $380M | 0.3% |
| Alcoholic beverages, excluding wine | spirits and liquor | $376M | 0.3% |

2026 so far (through August): $38.8B in imports. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade in Goods (customs basis).

## What America sells to Ireland: U.S. exports, 2025

| Category | What it is | Value | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pharmaceutical preparations | medicines and pharmacy items | $5.5B | 28.5% |
| Civilian aircraft, engines, equipment, and parts |   | $1.8B | 9.3% |
| Computer accessories | keyboards, drives, computer parts | $1.2B | 6.2% |
| Other industrial supplies |   | $1.1B | 5.9% |
| Semiconductors | semiconductors and chips | $1.1B | 5.6% |
| Crude oil |   | $925M | 4.8% |
| Medicinal equipment | medical devices and equipment | $794M | 4.1% |
| Computers | laptops, desktops, monitors | $713M | 3.7% |
| Industrial machines, other |   | $704M | 3.7% |

## U.S. tariff posture toward Ireland

Since February 24, 2026 most EU goods face the universal 10% Section 122 temporary import surcharge, which replaced the framework's 15% all-inclusive IEEPA structure when EO 14389 terminated the reciprocal tariffs. The framework's Section 232 terms persist: EU autos at 15%, and the April 2026 metals expansion expressly preserved the EU's trade-agreement-partner treatment (steel and aluminum otherwise at 50%).

The United States negotiates tariffs with the European Union as a single market; every measure here applies to Ireland as an EU member.

- Reciprocal tariff assigned under EO 14257: 20%, no longer in force. The Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs and they were terminated February 24, 2026 (EO 14389), replaced by a universal 10% Section 122 surcharge; see the timeline for the current effective rate.
- Section 232 sectors: Autos, Wood. Steel, aluminum, autos and similar national-security tariffs that name this country.

## Tariff status, 11 changes since 2025

- 2026-04-06: EU treatment preserved in expanded metals tariffs (in effect). The April 2026 proclamation expanding Section 232 coverage of aluminum, steel, and copper derivatives expressly does not alter or supersede the prior U.S.–EU agreement implementation, and lists the EU among 'Trade Agreement Partners' eligible for its exclusion process. [91 FR 18201](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-06960)
- 2026-02-24: IEEPA reciprocal tariffs terminated — replaced by 10% Section 122 (in effect, 10%). Executive Order 14389 (Ending Certain Tariff Actions) terminated the IEEPA tariff duties — including those under EO 14257, the basis of the EU's 15% all-inclusive structure — effective February 24, 2026. A flat 10% Section 122 temporary import surcharge (Proclamation 11012 of February 20, 2026) replaced them. The framework's Section 232 terms (the 15% EU autos cap, metals carve-outs) rest on separate authority and were expressly unaffected. [91 FR 9437](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03832)
- 2025-09-25: Framework implemented: preferential treatment for certain EU goods (in effect). Acting under the September 8, 2025 procedures order, Commerce and USTR modified the HTSUS to implement the framework — preferential (zero) reciprocal treatment for certain EU goods and a reduction of the Section 232 automobile and parts duty to 15% for EU-origin vehicles. [90 FR 46136](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-18660)
- 2025-08-21: U.S.–EU Framework Agreement joint statement (agreement, 15%). The United States and the European Union issued the Joint Statement on a Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade: the U.S. committed to the 15% all-inclusive ceiling, zero reciprocal duty on certain products, and a cut of the Section 232 automobile duty to 15%; the EU committed to eliminate tariffs on U.S. industrial goods and expand agricultural access, plus $750B in U.S. energy procurement through 2028. [source](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/08/joint-statement-on-a-united-states-european-union-framework-on-an-agreement-on-reciprocal-fair-and-balanced-trade/)
- 2025-08-07: 15% all-inclusive structure replaces the 20% rate (in effect, 15%). The July 31, 2025 order ('Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates') gave the EU a unique structure effective August 7, 2025: for goods with an MFN (Column 1) rate below 15%, the reciprocal duty tops the total up to exactly 15%; goods with an MFN rate of 15% or higher pay no additional reciprocal duty. [Federal Register 2025-15010](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-15010)
- 2025-07-09: Reciprocal-rate pause extended to August 1 (in effect, 10%). The July 7, 2025 order extended the suspension of country-specific reciprocal rates through August 1, 2025, keeping the EU at the 10% baseline while framework talks continued. [90 FR 30823](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-12962)
- 2025-06-04: Section 232 steel and aluminum duties doubled to 50% (in effect). The June 3, 2025 proclamation raised Section 232 duties on steel and aluminum articles and derivatives from 25% to 50% effective June 4, 2025, with no EU carve-out. [90 FR 24199](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-10524)
- 2025-04-10: 90-day pause suspends the 20% rate back to 10% (in effect, 10%). The April 9, 2025 modification order suspended country-specific reciprocal rates for 90 days for all partners except China, returning the EU to the 10% universal baseline effective April 10, 2025 while negotiations proceeded. [90 FR 15625](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-06462)
- 2025-04-09: EU country-specific reciprocal rate of 20% takes effect (in effect, 20%). Annex I of Executive Order 14257 assigned the European Union a 20% country-specific reciprocal rate, effective April 9, 2025 — the rate still carried for the EU in the HTS Chapter 99 Subchapter III note. [Federal Register 2025-06063](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-06063)
- 2025-04-05: Universal 10% reciprocal baseline takes effect (in effect, 10%). Executive Order 14257 (signed April 2, 2025) imposed a 10% ad valorem reciprocal duty on imports from all trading partners, including the EU, effective April 5, 2025. The order singled out the EU's 5% average MFN rate and 10% passenger-vehicle tariff as examples of non-reciprocal treatment. [Federal Register 2025-06063](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-06063)
- 2025-03-12: Section 232 steel and aluminum arrangements terminated — 25% duties on EU metals (in effect). Proclamations of February 10, 2025 ended the EU's tariff-rate-quota arrangements for steel and aluminum and raised the aluminum duty from 10% to 25%, applying 25% Section 232 duties to EU steel and aluminum effective March 12, 2025. [90 FR 9817](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-02833)

## What Ireland makes for America

- [Cancer and specialty drugs](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/cancer-and-specialty-drugs) (health): $19.1B to the U.S., 24% of U.S. imports of it
- [OTC medicines](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/otc-medicines) (health): $11.8B to the U.S., 15% of U.S. imports of it
- [Vaccines](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/vaccines) (health): $3.1B to the U.S., 33% of U.S. imports of it
- [Semiconductors and chips](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/semiconductors-and-chips) (digital): $2.1B to the U.S., 6% of U.S. imports of it
- [Surgical and sterile supplies](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/surgical-and-sterile-supplies) (health): $1.5B to the U.S., 9% of U.S. imports of it
- [Beer, wine, and spirits](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/beer-wine-spirits) (food): $554M to the U.S., 3% of U.S. imports of it
- [Servers and cloud hardware](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/servers-and-cloud-hardware) (digital): $398M to the U.S.
- [Eyeglasses & contact lenses](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/eyeglasses-and-contacts) (health): $367M to the U.S., 12% of U.S. imports of it
- [Diagnostic tests and lab supplies](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/diagnostic-tests) (health): $320M to the U.S., 6% of U.S. imports of it
- [Port and crane equipment](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/port-and-crane-equipment) (logistics): $279M to the U.S., 4% of U.S. imports of it
- [Butter and dairy fats](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/butter-and-cream) (food): $203M to the U.S., 43% of U.S. imports of it
- [Topical and dermatology Rx products](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/topical-dermatology-rx) (health): $166M to the U.S., 11% of U.S. imports of it

## The supply chain view

Ireland sits upstream of 24 essential American goods through 12 tracked inputs.

- [Beverage Flavor Concentrate & Syrup](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/beverage-flavor-concentrate) (chemical): 86% share
- [Pen Needles (Subcutaneous Injection)](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/glp1-pen-needles) (manufactured): 40% share
- [Atmospheric Air](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/ig-input-atmospheric-air) (chemical): 35% share
- [Refrigerated truck transport (fresh produce)](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/fresh-produce-reefer-transport) (manufactured): 35% share
- [Cyclosporine A API](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/oph-input-cyclosporine-a) (pharmaceutical): 35% share
- [Cryogenic cold boxes and heat exchangers](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/mhe-input-cryogenic-cold-boxes) (manufactured): 30% share
- [Liquid nitrogen (helium pre-cooling)](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/mhe-input-liquid-nitrogen-helium) (mineral): 30% share
- [Sterile filtration membrane (0.2 μm)](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/sterile-filtration-membrane) (manufactured): 30% share
- [Industrial CO2 (Stunning & MAP Packaging)](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/pk-input-co2-stunning-packaging) (chemical): 27% share
- [Nitrocellulose (NC) Membrane for Lateral Flow](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/nitrocellulose-membrane) (manufactured): 25% share
- [Dairy Proteins for Infant Formula (Whey/Casein)](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/dairy-protein-infant-formula) (agricultural): 23% share
- [Neon Gas (Chip-Grade)](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/neon-gas-chip-grade) (chemical): 22% share

## The country itself

Celtic tribes arrived in Ireland between 600 and 150 B.C. Norse invasions that began in the late 8th century finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. Norman invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. The Irish famine of the mid-19th century caused an almost 25-percent decline in the island's population through starvation, disease, and emigration. The population of the island continued to fall until the 1960s, but over the last 50 years, Ireland's high birthrate has made it demographically one of the youngest populations in the EU. The modern Irish state traces its origins to the failed 1916 Easter Monday Uprising that galvanized nationalist sentiment. The ensuing guerrilla war led to independence from the UK in 1921 with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the creation of the Irish Free State. The treaty was deeply controversial in Ireland, in part because it helped solidify the country's partition, with six of the 32 counties remaining in the UK as Northern Ireland. The split between pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty partisans led to the Irish Civil War (1922-23). The traditionally dominant political parties in Ireland, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, are de facto descendants of the opposing sides of the treaty debate. Ireland declared itself a republic in 1949 and formally left the British Dominion. Beginning in the 1960s, deep sectarian divides between the Catholic and Protestant populations and systemic discrimination in Northern Ireland erupted into years of violence known as the Troubles. In 1998, the governments of Ireland and the UK, along with most political parties in Northern Ireland, reached the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement with the support of the US. This agreement helped end the Troubles and initiated a new phase of cooperation between the Irish and British Governments. Ireland was neutral in World War II and continues its policy of military neutrality. Ireland joined the European Community in 1973 and the euro-zone currency union in 1999. The economic boom years of the Celtic Tiger (1995-2007) saw rapid economic growth that came to an abrupt end in 2008 with the meltdown of the Irish banking system. As a small, open economy, Ireland has excelled at courting foreign direct investment, especially from US multi-nationals, which has helped the economy recover from the financial crisis and insulated it somewhat from the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Geography
- Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
- Area: 70,273 sq km
- Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
- Terrain: mostly flat to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
- Natural resources: natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite
- Coastline: 1,448 km
- Natural hazards: rare extreme weather events

People and society
- Population: 5,233,461 (2024 est.)
- Nationality: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)
- Ethnic groups: Irish 76.6%, Irish travelers 0.6%, other White 9.9%, Asian 3.3%, Black 1.5%, other (includes Arab, Roma, and persons of mixed backgrounds) 2%, unspecified 2.6% (2022 est.)
- Languages: English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 37.7% of the population)
- Religions: Roman Catholic 69.2% (includes lapsed), Protestant 3.7% (Church of Ireland/England/Anglican/Episcopalian 2.5%, other Protestant 1.2%), Orthodox 2%, other Christian 0.9%, Muslim 1.6%, other 1.4%, agnostic/atheist 0.1%, none 14.5%, unspecified 6.7% (2022 est.)
- Median age: 40.5 years (2025 est.)
- Life expectancy at birth: 82 years (2024 est.)

Economy
- Economic overview: high-income, export-oriented EU economy; large multinational business sector contributes to growth and tax revenues but poses volatility risks; high living standards; strong labor market challenged by skill shortages and aging workforce
- Industries: pharmaceuticals, chemicals, computer hardware and software, food products, beverages and brewing; medical devices
- Agricultural products: milk, barley, beef, wheat, potatoes, pork, oats, chicken, rapeseed, beans (2023)
- Exports - partners: USA 28%, Germany 11%, UK 8%, Belgium 8%, China 7% (2023)
- Imports - partners: UK 20%, USA 17%, France 10%, China 7%, Germany 7% (2023)

Government
- Government type: parliamentary republic
- Capital: Dublin
- Independence: 6 December 1921 (from the UK); 6 December 1922 (Irish Free State established); 18 April 1949 (Republic of Ireland Act enabled)
- Constitution: previous 1922; latest drafted 14 June 1937, adopted by plebiscite 1 July 1937, effective 29 December 1937
- Executive branch: President Catherine CONNOLLY (since 11 November 2025)
- Legislative branch: Parliament (Oireachtas)

## Sources
- [91 FR 18201](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/09/2026-06960/strengthening-actions-taken-to-adjust-imports-of-aluminum-steel-and-copper-into-the-united-states)
- [91 FR 9437](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/25/2026-03832/ending-certain-tariff-actions)
- [90 FR 46136](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/25/2025-18660/implementing-certain-tariff-related-elements-of-the-us-eu-framework-on-an-agreement-on-reciprocal)
- [U.S.–EU Framework Agreement joint statement](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/08/joint-statement-on-a-united-states-european-union-framework-on-an-agreement-on-reciprocal-fair-and-balanced-trade/)
- [15% all-inclusive structure replaces the 20% rate](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/06/2025-15010/further-modifying-the-reciprocal-tariff-rates)
- [90 FR 30823](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/10/2025-12962/extending-the-modification-of-the-reciprocal-tariff-rates)
- [90 FR 24199](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/09/2025-10524/adjusting-imports-of-aluminum-and-steel-into-the-united-states)
- [90 FR 15625](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/15/2025-06462/modifying-reciprocal-tariff-rates-to-reflect-trading-partner-retaliation-and-alignment)
- [EU country-specific reciprocal rate of 20% takes effect](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/07/2025-06063/regulating-imports-with-a-reciprocal-tariff-to-rectify-trade-practices-that-contribute-to-large-and)
- [90 FR 9817](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/18/2025-02833/adjusting-imports-of-steel-into-the-united-states)
- [CIA World Factbook, Ireland](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/)

## Related
- [U.S. tariffs by country](https://policyrisk.com/tariffs)
- [All countries](https://policyrisk.com/countries)
- [Ireland on the supply map](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/country/IE)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/countries/ie (as of 2026-11-04).