Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly has today (Friday, August 1) warned that new US tariffs present a risk to Irish producers, particularly whiskey producers, despite a deal agreed with the EU.

Mullooly said, as yet, there is "no clarity" on how US tariffs will be applied to EU exports and he believes as a result of this, Irish producers still face the threat of severe financial penalties.

Mullooly is now calling for "decisive government support" because of the threat posed to Ireland’s pharmaceutical, whiskey, and food export sectors from US tariffs.

"In 2024, exports of Irish-manufactured whiskey to the United States exceeded €410 million, according to recent figures presented in the Dáil.

"We cannot afford to sit back and wait until the sector disintegrates beyond repair. The time for emergency government support is now," he added.

Previously the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) the all-island trade body for the sector, had highlighted that a 10% baseline tariff rate applied to all US imports since April had caused "real economic pain for Irish whiskey producers".

From today the tariff rate in theory moves to 15%.

The IWA had also said that a "zero-for-zero tariff trading environment" between the EU and US had served the spirits industry well for nearly 30 years.

In response to this Mullooly wants the government to introduce a tariffs-support package that would include "a rates rebate, job retention supports, energy credits, and the establishment of a stakeholder forum to directly address the challenges facing the sector".

Separately the Tánaiste Simon Harris held a meeting today of the Government Trade Forum to "map out" Ireland’s response to the agreement between the US and EU.

The Tánaiste said that while the 15% tariffs rate applied on EU goods to the US provided "much needed clarity" for Irish businesses the government still needed to analyse the full implications of the EU/US deal.