Jenny Melia
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
And as you know, the changes... The US?
Oh, sorry, into the US.
Sorry, Joe.
And the changes that took place this year very much impacted on the companies that were selling tangible products into the US themselves.
So that's about 450 of our client companies.
So in response to supporting our companies to deal with those challenges, well, first of all, we set up a dedicated tariff response team and introduced two new market diversification supports last year, last month.
And essentially what those supports are doing, they're helping the companies or the smaller support helps the companies to actually assess the impact
of the tariffs on their business and be able to plan around the associated remediation measures that are needed.
And then the second support, a bigger support funding of up to 150,000.
What that will do then is support the companies to actually do the work around
You know, bringing a new product into market or bringing their existing products, bringing their existing products into new markets.
I think one of the big things in terms of the tariffs is that that, you know, was difficult for companies in the beginning was when we didn't have certainty and uncertainty.
Well, we have certainty now in terms of the 15% tariff.
And even in light of what I would call the fresh conversation last week around pharmaceuticals.
It spooked a lot of people.
But at the end of the day, there was a very clear message sent out very early to say, no, the 15% tariff still holds here for the EU.
And look, Joe, what I would always say, I'm in Enterprise Ireland now 29 years ago.
I have never seen disruption that didn't bring opportunities with it.
So as well as holding on to everything we have in market, we will be out with our companies and with our 42 international offices looking for those opportunities, hustling, making sure that we're getting our companies in front of the right people in market, because we know as soon as we get them into those rooms,
They have the innovative solutions.