Core Insights - The autumn survey report by the German Chamber of Commerce indicates that 44% of surveyed German companies are still negatively impacted by U.S. tariff policies, leading to a cautious outlook on market development in the U.S. [1] - The report shows a recovery in business confidence among German companies, with 76% of those with branches in North America still feeling the effects of tariffs, down from 60% in the spring [1] - Only 24% of German companies are considering additional investments in the U.S. this autumn, a significant decrease from 37% a year ago, reflecting a shift in investment strategies towards regions with faster demand growth [1] Group 1 - 44% of surveyed German companies report negative impacts from U.S. tariffs [1] - 76% of German companies with North American branches still feel tariff effects [1] - 24% of German companies are considering additional investments in the U.S., down from 37% [1] Group 2 - The uncertainty caused by U.S. tariff measures has led to disappointment among businesses and strategic adjustments, particularly regarding investment plans in the U.S. [1] - Companies are shifting their investment decisions towards regions with faster demand growth due to the changing global political and economic landscape [1]

Core Insights - In the second quarter, 40% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ireland reported growth, marking the highest level in over two years [1] - The latest "All-Island Business Monitor" surveyed over 750 business managers, revealing that more than half of SMEs remained stable, with only 7% reporting a decline [1] - SME confidence is stable with signs of moderate growth, but rising costs and tightening profit margins are testing resilience, with 60% of businesses citing costs as the biggest obstacle [1] Cost and Economic Challenges - Over one-third of businesses reported cost increases of over 10% in areas such as wages, energy, and insurance over the past two years [1] - One-fifth of businesses indicated that global political and trade uncertainties are a concern for the second quarter of 2025 [1] - Ten percent of businesses reported feeling the impact of tariffs [1] Strategic Insights - Martin Robinson, Strategic Director of InterTradeIreland, noted that resilience and moderate growth characterize the current situation, but ongoing cost and profit margin pressures are stressing businesses [1] - The Minister for Enterprise, Burke, emphasized that SMEs are the "backbone of our economy" and expressed commitment to supporting their growth and resilience [1]