Irish SMEs braced for costs to rise amid ongoing trade uncertainty
Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariff plan has led to rising global trade uncertainty, with nearly three quarters of Irish SMEs expecting costs to rise in the next year. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Nearly three quarters of Irish SMEs are bracing for costs to rise amid global trade uncertainty, while one in three businesses expect their imports and exports to fall, new research predicts.
The research based on a study of 300 senior finance decision makers at SMEs in Ireland found that sentiment among Irish SMEs has taken a hit since the onset of tariffs, with 40% of firms reporting a deterioration in business confidence.
