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Trump Lifts Tariffs on Irish Whiskey, Ponders Irish Unity During Visit
Confirmed
In Short: US President Donald Trump announced he would lift all tariffs on Irish whiskey at the end of his two-day visit to Ireland, a gesture that comes after he doubled down on his support for a united Ireland.
US President Donald Trump announced he would lift all tariffs on Irish whiskey at the end of his two-day visit to Ireland, a gesture that comes after he doubled down on his support for a united Ireland. During a meeting with Ireland's Prime Minister, Micheál Martin, Trump expressed his desire for a unified Ireland, stating, 'Well, I don’t want to cause any problems, but I will tell you, I’d love to see it unified.
Following Trump's comments, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham maintained that a poll on Irish unification is 'off the table' as there isn't enough popular support for Northern Ireland to leave the UK. Burnham said, 'I am not aware that there is majority public support for another referendum, and until that changes, there will not be one.
While polls show a comfortable majority in Northern Ireland favoring remaining in the UK, the gap has narrowed slightly since Britain's departure from the European Union pushed unity higher up the political agenda. The sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland involved Catholic nationalist paramilitaries seeking a united Ireland, Protestant unionist paramilitaries wanting to remain part of the UK, and British troops.
Trump's visit also included the lifting of tariffs on all UK-made whiskey, which had already been removed in May, meaning producers north of the border were not affected by this new announcement. Despite some Irish protesters urging Trump to speak out against US military actions, his focus remained on whiskey and the potential for Irish unity.
Background
Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
What's confirmed
- US President Donald Trump announced he would lift all tariffs on Irish whiskey at the end of his two-day visit to Ireland, a gesture that comes after he doubled down on his support for a united Ireland. During a meeting with Ireland's Prime Minister, Micheál Martin, Trump expressed his desire for a unified Ireland, stating, 'Well, I don’t want to cause any problems, but I will tell you, I’d love to see it unified.
- Following Trump's comments, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham maintained that a poll on Irish unification is 'off the table' as there isn't enough popular support for Northern Ireland to leave the UK. Burnham said, 'I am not aware that there is majority public support for another referendum, and until that changes, there will not be one.
- While polls show a comfortable majority in Northern Ireland favoring remaining in the UK, the gap has narrowed slightly since Britain's departure from the European Union pushed unity higher up the political agenda. The sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland involved Catholic nationalist paramilitaries seeking a united Ireland, Protestant unionist paramilitaries wanting to remain part of the UK, and British troops.
- Trump's visit also included the lifting of tariffs on all UK-made whiskey, which had already been removed in May, meaning producers north of the border were not affected by this new announcement. Despite some Irish protesters urging Trump to speak out against US military actions, his focus remained on whiskey and the potential for Irish unity.
What's still developing
- Gavin Robinson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Northern Ireland’s main unionist party, said that Northern Ireland’s future was a matter for its people to decide, not Trump.
- Reporting from the capital, Al Jazeera’s Milena Veselinovic said Dubliners had a “laundry list” of reasons for protesting against Trump’s visit.
- Addressing the crowd before the trophy presentation, Trump said he had discussed whiskey tariffs with Martin and with golfer Lowry.