Residents of a town near Cork, Ireland's second-largest city, are expressing concerns about the looming U.S. tariffs, which threaten the pharmaceutical industry, an economic lifeline for many locals employed in the sector.
In Ringaskiddy, a small town near Cork, a port has long supported the operations of local pharmaceutical companies. Major U.S. firms such as Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, and Eli Lilly have established factories in the area, producing medicines for export to the United States and other global markets.
The U.S. initially proposed tariffs of up to 25 percent on goods produced in Ireland and exported to the United States. Although a 90-day delay in implementation was later announced, residents of the small town have expressed deep concerns over the potential impact.
"Everyone would have family involved, like my wife worked in it, her two brothers worked in this, my cousin worked in it, without a doubt there was a genuine shock," said local resident Owen.
Over 20,000 people in Ringaskiddy are directly employed in the pharmaceutical industry, with many more in support roles. The U.S. government's threat of tariffs could lead to major changes in the local economy and many job losses.
"There are a lot of jobs in Cork depending on the pharmacy industry. So, if the tariffs do come in, they will have a big impact. So, a lot of my friends and neighbors work in these industries, and they would be worried about the tariffs," said pharmacist Conor.
The U.S. tariff policy will not only impact Cork but also affect all of Ireland. According to the Central Statistics Office of Ireland, exports to the U.S. reached 73.2 billion euros in 2024, with 44.4 billion euros coming from pharmaceutical products and 4.4 billion euros from medical devices, making up over 66 percent of the total.
Moreover, as the largest source of pharmaceutical imports for the U.S., Ireland's supply is vital. If this supply chain is disrupted, it will directly impact the availability of medicines in the U.S. and worldwide.
"We are a cog in the chain, we don't do the whole product here, but we do an important part of it. And I think a point that has been misunderstood by the U.S. administration is that of supply chains. So if we are not able to freely produce and supply the medicines that we're producing here, it's the U.S. consumer and the U.S. healthcare system that will suffer ultimately," said Jack White, a councilor in Cork.
Residents of Irish town wary of looming U.S. tariffs on pharma industry
