Michael E. Burke: Navigating Rough Seas – Ireland’s Steady Course Through U.S. Trade Shifts

This piece originally featured in the Ireland INC US 250 Index 2025, available to read here.

By Michael E. Burke, Partner, Arnall Golden Gregory

As U.S. tariffs and shifting trade winds test global markets, Irish businesses once again find themselves navigating seas Saint Brendan would recognize - unpredictable, yet full of promise. Rough seas do not end a voyage; they reveal its purpose.

The U.S.-Ireland economic partnership has long been a story of shared ambition, innovation, and resilience. Today, that partnership faces a new era of complexity. The re-emergence of tariffs and protectionist policies, including Section 232 duties on steel and aluminium and broader trade actions affecting European goods, has highlighted how quickly global rules can change. For Irish exporters, even small adjustments in U.S. policy can have outsized effects on cost, timing, and competitiveness.

The challenge is not limited to tariffs. Increasing scrutiny of foreign investment, tightening export-control regimes, and the politicization of supply chains have introduced layers of uncertainty for companies whose success depends on cross-border efficiency. Energy prices, shipping costs, and compliance obligations all fluctuate in step with the broader geopolitical climate. The cumulative effect is a business environment that rewards agility and preparation over simple growth.

For Irish firms, risk management has become strategy. The companies that will thrive in the next decade are those that treat volatility as a permanent feature of global trade. That means diversifying suppliers and logistics networks; stress-testing contracts against potential tariff shocks; and maintaining strong relationships with U.S. state-level economic-development agencies, which often provide more stability than federal policy cycles. It also means investing early in U.S.-compliant governance frameworks - from data protection and cybersecurity to labor and environmental standards - to ensure that access to the American market remains seamless and credible.

Yet the same headwinds that complicate trade also create opportunity. The U.S. economy's pivot toward advanced manufacturing, digital health, and artificial intelligence aligns closely with Ireland's strengths in innovation, research, and nimble execution. Irish companies that bring proven technologies and adaptable teams can serve as ideal partners for U.S. firms scaling in these sectors. Likewise, American investors increasingly look to Ireland not just as a gateway to Europe, but as a laboratory for sustainable, tech-driven growth models that can be replicated globally.

Continued cooperation in education, research, and workforce development will be critical. Strengthening academic and industry partnerships can ensure that the next generation of leaders view the Atlantic not as a barrier but as a bridge. Moreover, maintaining political stability and peace in Northern Ireland - an enduring priority for both Dublin and Washington - remains essential to sustaining investor confidence across the island.

Saint Brendan's voyage reminds us that progress seldom comes on calm seas. Each storm tested his resolve but also brought him closer to his destination. For Ireland's global enterprises, success in the United States will depend not on avoiding turbulence but on mastering it - steering with preparation, partnership, and conviction toward the opportunities that lie just beyond the horizon.