DUBLIN, Ireland: As tensions rise following the imposition of sweeping U.S. tariffs, Ireland's deputy leader, Tanaiste Simon Harris will travel to Washington on Wednesday to hold talks with senior members of the Trump administration.

The visit comes in the wake of Donald Trump's ‘Liberation Day' announcement, during which the U.S. president imposed a 20 percent tariff on goods from the European Union. Harris, who also serves as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, will meet U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, as well as members of Congress, for trade and political discussions.

He has acknowledged the changing nature of global trade and warned that the relationship between the EU and the U.S. is unlikely to return to its pre-tariff state.

"I think we are operating in an environment – after having many years, many decades of free trade and globalisation – we are operating in an environment where there is an effort from the United States of America to move to a more protectionist stance, and that will pose challenges," he said.

"Can our economy manage it? Of course we can. Can the European economy manage it? Of course we can. Will it be without challenge? No, it won't."

Harris also criticised the impact of the tariffs on American consumers. "We have seen estimates that there are going to be thousands of euros in additional costs put on the average American household as a result of that [tariffs]. So far, we have heard President Trump say that this is a temporary pain for long-term gain; we don't believe that to be the case. I have yet to hear economic advice or opinion that vindicates that."

Although Ireland was not singled out in the U.S. announcement, both Trump and Secretary Lutnick have made repeated references to U.S. pharmaceutical and tech firms based there.

Speaking on the All-In Podcast, Lutnick said: "We are going to try and fix a whole bunch of these tax scams – Ireland is my favourite."

"What do they do? Oh, they have all of our (intellectual property) for all our great tech companies and great pharma companies."

Harris discussed these claims with Lutnick in a recent call. A spokesperson said the Tanaiste had "set out the position of Ireland's perspective and laid out some of the details of Ireland's surplus," but had no further comment on whether he corrected the figures cited.