It would be an "extraordinary escalation" for the European Union to target US tech companies in retaliation for US President Donald Trump's blanket tariffs on European goods, the Tánaiste has said.
Simon Harris urged against the European Commission using the so-called Anti-Coercion Instrument, which would give the EU a much broader range of responses, including the targeting of tech services, intellectual property, banking and public procurement.
Speaking at an emergency meeting of EU trade ministers in Luxembourg, Mr Harris said: "If you were to get into that space, it would be an extraordinary escalation at a time when we must be working for a de-escalation.
"It is in many ways the nuclear option if you start talking about the use of the Anti-Coercion Instrument. What we need to do here is step-by-step in a measured way, consider how best to respond.
"I'm very clear from my engagement with multiple European counterparts, and our ongoing engagement with the commission, that the majority view is certainly not in that space of going near the ACI at this moment in time, but much rather looking to see how we can respond in the first instance to the steel and aluminum tariffs, and then, crucially, how we can get to a position of negotiation."
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Meanwhile, RTÉ News understands the total EU response to Mr Trump's tariffs could amount to duties on US goods worth €400 billion.
This would represent retaliation for the US tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminium, last Wednesday's "reciprocal" tariffs of 20% on most EU exports, and the 25% tariffs on European car and autoparts exports.
The European Commission will publish a final list of US products to be targeted in response to the steel and aluminium tariffs tonight and member states will vote on that list on Wednesday.
It is understood the Commission will wait for the economic impact of that suite of tariffs to take before looking at an expanded list in response to cars and reciprocals.
The announcement of the measures taken by the US President on Wednesday have stoked fears of a global downturn and a recession in the United States.
EU ministers will focus on two agendas: firstly, an immediate retaliation against the 25% tariffs Mr Trump slapped on European steel and aluminium last month, and secondly, how to respond to his 20% blanket tariffs on almost all EU exports to the US.
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On the former, the European Commission has been circulating a 99-page list of US products which could be hit with tariffs in retaliation for the steel and aluminium duties.
Ireland, France and Italy have been lobbying to have US bourbon taken off the list given that Mr Trump threatened to hit European wine and spirits with a 200% tariff.
It is understood that effort may have borne fruit, although the Commission has kept the final list secret ahead of today’s meeting.
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EU countries left grappling with implications of US tariffs
On the blanket US tariffs, Mr Harris said he would make Ireland's commitment to EU unity clear.
The Tánaiste called for a firm, but proportionate response, while working towards a negotiated solution.
On that note, the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant has said 50 countries had contacted the Trump administration seeking negotiations to reduce the tariffs.
Mr Bessant told NBC News President Trump now had maximum leverage.
The EU’s trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said on Friday he had a frank exchange of views with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Secretary Jamieson Greer and that both sides would stay in touch.
The comments do not suggest an imminent climbdown by the Trump administration.
