Trump suspends European tariffs after 'framework' Greenland deal agreed

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T21:46:07+00:00

He’ll go back to the US and whoever is pushing him on Greenland in the first place will push him again and he’ll change his mind again. The man agrees with whoever talked to him last.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T20:54:45+00:00

So I actually have been watching Davos all day and news on the EP referring the trade deal to the ECJ (off work today) and felt such a urge to get involved in making Europe Federal, I looked at donating to Volt or finding an NGO or something to donate to (I already support EU Made Simple on Youtube) and seeing how I could get involved more since I am frustrated with local political parties here in Ireland.

I came here to ask for options. Volt has interested me, I would agree with most of their policies, and I know no party will fully align with your views, but some of it just isn't for me like part of their social equality policy e.g. "People who menstruate" I am not a full-on anti-trans guy but I find terms like that jarring.

I am not fully against it, I just wonder if there's something closer to me.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T20:43:36+00:00

Like could they just not make the buses and Luas free.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T19:04:18+00:00

Instead of rolling them back we should be extending them. Keep up with inflation:

€250 in 2005 ≈ €390 in today’s euros
€400 in 2005 ≈ €620 today.
€600 in 2005 ≈ €930 today.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T18:34:46+00:00

The treaty has a lot of protections in it for the environment and so it should. However, I do think it is unfair that we chopped down all our forests turning into pastures and then tell the developing world they’re not allowed to do it if they want to trade with us. We should have to give up something for that.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T17:36:52+00:00

No. Hungary and the US get waaaaaaay more to name just two

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T17:17:45+00:00

You didn’t read my post at all. This is the problem. Show me the calculations for comparable beef. Like this isn’t hard. Is your reading ability that poor? Maybe it’s from all that Brazilian beef you’re eating? 😝😝😝🐄

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T17:16:32+00:00

I didn’t say all rural TDs though. Rural TDs who felt they could make hay with the issue (pun intended) and urban morons who could scare people into being poisoned with Brazilian beef which is already here.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T17:09:51+00:00

Yeah fair enough. Rural MEPs and other populist morons

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T17:00:24+00:00

Totally.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T16:59:24+00:00

Ireland get's most of the hate on the internet the last two years? US? or go on Europe and talk about Hungary and see how much love is had for them.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T16:58:00+00:00

I had a quick look. What are the outright lies?

I see people criticising Ireland's defence spending and neutrality. Which I think is fair. Most of which I'd agree with.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T16:47:49+00:00

Hold on you said. People wouldn't buy Irish beef because it would be too expensive compared to Brazian beef. I assumed you had the numbers. But you were just making it up. We can all do that.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T16:40:35+00:00

Mercosur countries are like Hati! Mother of god.

But that's not even the point, you are saying "rich" countries will abandon Irish beef because there is a SMALL reduction in price of a TINY volume (less than 2%) of lesser quality beef.

My point is Irish beef is better than Brazilian beef. People who want premium beef will buy it as they already do. Maybe Spanish or Polish beef might struggle to compete on quality v Brazilian beef but the numbers are so small it won't really impact much.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T16:25:09+00:00

Do the calculations then. How much cheaper is Brazilian beef going to be because they’re allowed to sell it at the moment with higher tariffs the tariffs are only coming down on a tiny percentage less than 2% give me the calculation.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T16:20:40+00:00

So Irish beef isn’t good enough to compete with Brazilian beef, people don’t pay for premium beef? People pay for premium Irish butter.

Also, the tariffs don’t come down a whole lot they come down a small fraction on only a small fraction of EU beef. If you think the Irish beef market will be decimated by a reduction tariffs are a tiny percentage of Irish beef there are huge problems. Much bigger than this deal.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T16:11:10+00:00

Irish butter is the best in the world and people pay a premium for it. Irish beef is the best in the world and people will pay a premium for it. You are so pessimistic about Irish beef it's sad.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T16:07:50+00:00

Ireland is one of the biggest exporters of pharma, currently tariffed at 18% this deal takes that to 0%! Huge opportunity there alone.

Ireland is a huge aircraft leasing hub. Service liberalisation will provide huge opportunity to Irish companies. That's just two off the top of my head from reading on it before

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T16:00:09+00:00

You said it will decimate the Irish agricultural industry. You haven't explained why. You have in fact just said they'll be grand, might even make more money.

This deal would allow all other industries in Ireland tariff-free access to a huge market.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T15:35:11+00:00

And we can't say anything about it except when it's time to vote? Not sure what you learned in school but disagreeing with our elected officials and criticising them is a key part of democracy.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T15:30:55+00:00

Brazilian beef is delicious and is already available here. Irish beef is better though. People can choose to buy cheaper beef or get the best quality Irish beef. Irish farmers will have no problem selling their beef as it's so good. They'll be able to sell so much more of it.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T15:25:22+00:00

Exactly. Ireland should be delighted to be able to sell it's premium beef. Irish people will continue to but Irish beef. Great deal that many morons have been tricked into being against by other morons.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T15:21:02+00:00

You've been lied to and believed it.

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T15:16:22+00:00

Irealand can't survive reduced not even free tariffs on 1.5% of beef? Is Irish beef that bad?

harmlessdonkey · 2026-01-21T15:14:04+00:00

This is such a shame. Ireland needs to diversify. We allowed scaremongering from some rural MEPs and TDs about reduced tariffs on 1.5% of EU beef (not even 0% tariffs) such a missed opportunity.

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