Pills, Profits, and Pressure: The Irish Pharma Industry in the Crosshairs of the US Trade War

Ireland’s pharmaceutical sector has long been the crown jewel of its modern economic model, an industry that combines global capital, high-skilled employment, and export-led growth. With over 50,000 direct employees and more than €100 billion in annual exports, it is no exaggeration to say that Ireland is a pharmaceutical superpower on a per capita basis. Yet in 2025, the sector finds itself in a precarious position: squarely in the crosshairs of US trade hawks and subject to mounting scrutiny as geopolitical rivalry spills over into commerce.

The Biden and now Trump administrations have each, in their own way, embraced economic nationalism. But with Trump back in office and ramping up tariff threats under the guise of “strategic rebalancing,” Ireland’s privileged access to US markets, especially for pharmaceuticals and medical devices, is under silent siege. This sector risk brief examines the nature of that threat, the structural vulnerabilities of the Irish pharmaceutical model, and what is at stake in a shifting global trade order.

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Pills, Profits, and Pressure The Irish Pharma Industry in the Crosshairs of the US Trade War.pdf

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