The agency hit the ground running to prepare companies for a hard Brexit. There isn’t the same sense of urgency for companies exporting to the US under the shadow of Trump.
The Cavan insulation company reported €8.6bn in annual revenues and has lined up plans to seize a bigger share of the US market, even with the “noisy environment” created by US President Donald Trump.
This week has seen the US set the European agenda, giving its Nato allies a choice between a real war or a trade war.
The London-based drinks group has warned of a $200 million hit from Trump's tariffs on Mexico and Canada. A similar levy on Europe would likely have a sizable impact on its iconic stout.
The promises the three party leaders will discuss tonight are being largely funded by tax receipts from US corporations. And those receipts are under renewed pressure with Donald Trump's proposed tariffs.
Trump's regime shift appears to be protectionist with higher tariffs and the unleashing of animal spirits in the economy. Assumptions about impending sky-high inflation levels are likely wide of the mark.
Donald Trump brings chaos, rhetorical or otherwise. The Irish economic model is based on certainty. The priority for the next government, regardless of its composition, will be to maintain this certainty amid such chaos. Much depends on it.
Trump’s first-term tariffs were small and on a limited number of goods. A blanket tariff on all imports of at least 10% is almost incomparable and would have an outsized impact on Ireland.
The Cavan multinational is railing against hefty duties, as high as 68 per cent, that the EU has slapped on China-made chemicals used in flame retardants.
Looking at Donald Trump's first term in office will not tell you an awful lot about what we should expect a second time around. However, the tone of the recent Republican convention and the panellists speaking at it are illuminating for investors.
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