Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
390. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the impact to date of tariffs imposed on Irish products by the current Trump Administration in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45154/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, through Enterprise Ireland, supports Irish companies to grow their business and secure new opportunities across the globe. We are continuing to closely monitor the impact of tariffs imposed by the United States on EU-origin goods, including Irish exports, in the context of an evolving and uncertain global trading environment.
Enterprise Ireland client companies exported approximately €6.6 billion to the United States in 2024, representing a significant share of overall exports and underlining the importance of the US market for Irish enterprise. Of the approximately 950 Enterprise Ireland client companies exporting to the US, around 450 product-based exporters are assessed as being most directly exposed to tariff impacts, with these companies accounting for an estimated €3.8 billion to €4 billion in goods exports.
Based on ongoing engagement with EI's client companies, the impact of tariffs to date has been variable across sectors and firms. Tariffs have created additional cost pressures, with implications for margins and pricing, particularly in competitive and price-sensitive markets. The impact is further influenced by competitive dynamics, including the position of US-based firms and other international competitors not subject to equivalent tariff measures. More broadly, the tariff environment has contributed to increased uncertainty for businesses, affecting forward planning, investment decisions and supply chain management, alongside a range of indirect impacts including input costs and demand patterns.
Enterprise Ireland continues to actively support client companies through its extensive in-market presence in the United States, including its network of seven offices, and through increased programme activity such as trade missions, targeted events and one-to-one engagements. There have been a number of recent Ministerial-led trade missions and engagements in Texas, New York, Washington and the West Coast which were aimed at strengthening commercial opportunities and supporting companies to maintain and grow their market position.
