'A lot of misleading headlines,' says Tipperary council official on Trump tariffs

Ireland is braced for the impending announcement of Donald Trump's tech and pharma specific tariffs and in Tipperary, a county uniquely exposed to the negative effects of any fallout, elected representatives and local authority executives are attempting to prepare in uncertain times.

Tipperary is particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of US tariffs by virtue of a strong pharmacological industry and highly skilled and tech-sector oriented workforce.

READ NEXT: 'Bittersweet' as popular Cashel store to close after 100 years

Several US giants in the pharma industry have production plants which export to the United States in the Premier County and in the north of the county a large number of people commute from their homes to tech-sector jobs in Limerick City.

Ireland, which is already exposed to general tariffs levelled on the European Union, may suffer deeper wounds than most when pharma and tech tariffs are enforced and the situation is causing concern for local elected representatives.

The issue was debated at the monthly meeting of Tipperary County Council in Clonmel on Monday, when Fianna Fáil's Councillor, Siobhán Ambrose, asked what the local authority is planning should the worst case scenario unfold and large numbers of people in Tipperary lose jobs.

READ NEXT: PICTURE: Tipperary man lands safely in Australia and heads straight for a creamy pint!

Brian Beck, Director of Services, Economic, Community and Rural Development responded to the concerns and said the current situation is a 90-day pause on most of the tariffs for almost all countries, which includes Ireland and the European Union.

"We have attended meetings with the Tipperary Chamber, Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and Local Enterprise Office in terms of understanding approaches from each of the agencies - they're in a situation where they're trying to gather information and there is a lot of work and scenario planning happening", Mr. Beck said.

"The agencies are trying to predict an impact that might happen should a situation arise. There are a lot of misleading headlines out there and that is being collated by these agencies in order that they can prepare and anticipate whatever is necessary.

"From the perspective of Tipperary County Council and the Local Enterprise Office we are ready to engage and support in whatever way we can depending on what is asked of us by the Departments of Enterprise and Trade, Tourism and the government in general.

"Our role is to be there to support - but at the moment it is a very dynamic situation and we have to wait and see, but carry on that research to empower us with the information to understand what the situation is, specifically with regard to Tipperary", Mr. Beck said.

Responding to a suggestion of a rates reduction for local businesses should there be an economic downturn as the result of US tariffs, Mr. Beck said the Council has already passed a budget based on the current level of commercial rates.

"At the moment there is not a scenario where there is a call for the restructuring of rates across the country - so we should wait and not react and do what the government is saying to us, which is wait and see what happens and then prepare for it", Mr. Beck said.