Forget tax, Trump’s threat to Ireland is his erratic policies

President Donald Trump’s election caused quite a few jitters in Irish industrial policy circles.

His “America First” policy and pledges to reduce US corporation tax to bring US multinationals home, threatens a critical element of our economic policy. However, in his first three months, there is little evidence that Irish-based US multinationals and Irish policy makers need to be particularly worried.

This doesn’t mean that there is nothing to worry about from a Trump presidency. The risks are not from a reduction in US tax rates, but from the likely slowdown in US and global growth from President Trump’s mishandling of the economy and the persistent threat and uncertainty that will arise from his erratic actions and u-turns.