Trump Hosts Ireland's Prime Minister; Canada, EU Retaliate as US Tariffs on Aluminum, Steel Take Effect

The Canadian government has announced retaliatory tariffs after universal U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum came into force on March 12. Canada’s measures will be implemented on March 13 and target CA$29.8 billion in U.S. goods. The European Union also announced retaliatory trade action with new duties on U.S. industrial and farm products.

U.S. inflation slowed last month for the first time since September. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the annual inflation rate slowed to 2.8 percent in February, down from 3 percent in January.

President Donald Trump meets with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin on Wednesday, with Trump's trade policies and the conflict in Gaza among the potential topics of conversation. The annual White House meeting to mark St. Patrick's Day is usually a relatively straightforward affair for both the United States and Ireland. The Irish premier typically presents the president with a bowl of shamrocks as a symbolic gift, a tradition that will be observed during this visit.