As new US tariffs hit Irish exporters, many SMEs are reassessing their markets and margins. Here’s how business finance can help you adapt.

A new trade deal between the EU and the United States introduces a 15% tariff on a wide range of European exports. While this offers some stability after months of uncertainty, it’s still a significant increase from the much lower tariffs in place before—and it’s putting real pressure on Irish businesses trading into the US.

If your business relies on exports to the US, you may already be feeling the squeeze. But with the right financial support, there’s an opportunity to refocus and build new routes to growth.

What’s Changed and Why It Matters

As of July 2025, Irish businesses exporting goods like food, drink, pharmaceutical components, semiconductors and machinery to the US will face a standard 15% tariff.

Enterprise Ireland estimates that €3.8 billion worth of exports could be affected, across hundreds of Irish SMEs. Many of these operate with tight margins and limited capacity to absorb new costs.

Some may choose to pass those costs on, others may renegotiate contracts—but many are now asking: Is it time to explore new markets?

Why Diversifying Export Markets Makes Sense

If you’ve focused heavily on the US for growth, it’s worth looking at alternative regions where the barriers are lower and the returns more stable. These could include:

The UK and Northern Europe
Canada and other EU trade agreement partners
EU member states with rising demand for Irish-made goods

Making this kind of shift takes planning, and it often takes funding too—whether to invest in new packaging, logistics, certifications or simply to support a temporary cash flow gap while new sales come in.

How Business Finance Can Help

At BusinessLoans.ie, we work with businesses making moves like this all the time. Here’s how the right loan or funding solution can support your export strategy:

Working capital loans
Support short-term costs like marketing, stock purchases, or onboarding new clients in different regions.

Trade finance or invoice finance
Release cash tied up in international invoices or supplier orders, especially if you’re negotiating longer terms with new buyers.

Asset finance
Fund equipment upgrades or manufacturing changes to meet export regulations or scale production for a new market.

A Simple Plan to Move Forward

Here’s a basic framework for exporters thinking about making a change:

Review how much of your turnover depends on US exports
Recheck pricing and margins with the new tariffs factored in
Research alternative markets that suit your product and capacity
Identify what funding might be needed to make the switch
Speak to us—we’ll help you explore your finance options

Supporting Irish Businesses Through Trade Changes

BusinessLoans.ie helps Irish SMEs get access to fast, flexible funding—without the red tape. Whether you’re dealing with a cash flow gap, planning an expansion, or adapting to a changing market, we’re here to help.

Unsecured loans up to €500,000
Fast turnaround times
No obligation to proceed

Get in touch today to explore your options.

Call the BusinessLoans.ie team on 01 55 636 55 or APPLY HERE.

Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business — especially when you’re early-stage, growing fast, and need to hold stock to meet demand. But what if you could sell first and pay later?

That’s exactly what one of our recent clients — a young Irish business in the motorsports industry — achieved using a flexible trade finance facility we arranged through a leading non-bank provider.

The Challenge: Stocking Up Without Running Dry

Our client had just secured valuable contracts to sell motorcycles — a major opportunity to expand. They were already selling accessories online and at events, but stepping into bike sales required holding expensive stock, going to shows, and increasing visibility to new buyers.

Cash flow was tight. Bank finance wasn’t a fit. And tying up working capital in inventory would have slowed down everything from marketing to sales to hiring.

That’s where we came in.

The Solution: Buy Now, Pay Later for B2B

Through our lending partner’s innovative buy now, pay later solution for businesses, we helped them access trade finance — a facility that allows businesses to:

Pay suppliers upfront (on the client’s behalf)
Get goods in quickly
Repay the facility up to 120 days later

The result? Our client could now:

Hold motorcycles in stock to meet new demand
Attend shows with display models ready to go
Keep cash available for marketing, wages, and growth

All while avoiding the usual stress of large upfront supplier payments.

How Trade Finance Helps Irish Businesses Scale

This type of facility is ideal for growing businesses that import goods or need to purchase large volumes from suppliers, especially if:

You want to avoid cash flow dips caused by big stock orders
You’re tired of making small orders and paying too much per unit
You’d benefit from early payment discounts with your suppliers
You want to improve margins without chasing risky loans

With trade finance, you can often negotiate better pricing with suppliers while improving your own working capital position.

Flexible, Transparent, and Fast

There are no recurring fees or hidden costs — you simply pay a flat fee per invoice, and only when you use it.

Many of our clients find that supplier discounts and bulk savings outweigh the finance cost, leading to better margins and higher profitability overall.

Ready to Break Free from Cash Flow Constraints?

If your business needs to hold stock, manage long payment cycles, or stop tying up working capital in inventory — we can help.

At BusinessLoans.ie, we work with trusted partners to provide smart finance solutions that help Irish SMEs grow without unnecessary pressure.

Call the BusinessLoans.ie team on 01 55 636 55 or APPLY HERE.