How to respond to an unpredictable administration? That will surely be the question on the minds of EU trade ministers when they meet in Luxembourg.
As Ireland and other member states grapple with the implications of US tariffs on their individual countries, trade ministers and the European Commission must agree a unified plan of response.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris will be there in Luxembourg and the general consensus is to take a calm and measured approach to the US tariffs, with the ultimate aim of getting into negotiations with US President Donald Trump's administration.
Failing that, a package of counter-measures must also be formulated, but agreement among member states on that has proven difficult as the interests of countries across the European Union vary hugely.
The European Commission’s list of countermeasures responding to US tariffs on steel and aluminium of 25% which came into effect in March will also go to member states.
It's reported to target imports of US cereals, meat, wine, chewing gum, clothes and dental floss to name a few. It is not clear if bourbon whiskey in on the list, but one way or another Donald Trump could come out swinging.
He previously said a tariff on bourbon would bring a 200% tariff on European spirits and wines going to the US. Will he feel the same about US wine?
It's certainly going to be a nervous few days for whiskey distillers here, who consider the US market crucial for their businesses.
EU leaders will vote on that counter-measures list on Wednesday, which is the day the 20% tariff on all EU products kicks in.
It's also the day the Tánaiste is supposed to have his meeting with the US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
Mr Harris will travel to Washington for the encounter. He aims to put the Irish and EU case to Mr Lutnick in the hope of reaching a sensible position.
Of course by Wednesday there's no telling where the markets will be; where US administration thinking will be at; or how President Trump will react to developments.
One way or another, it's bound to be a very interesting exchange.
