News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

A red Postal service parked outside a rural Australian post office

Australia Post pauses US-bound parcel shipments

Australia's postal service said today it had temporarily suspended parcel shipments to the US after President Donald Trump's administration decided to scrap a customs tax rule that allowed low-value packages to enter duty free.

Business • 26 Aug

Consumer sentiment improves slightly in August - survey

Consumer sentiment recovered in August from a near two-year low as concerns about the impact of tariffs on European Union exports to the US appeared to ease, a survey showed today.

Business • 26 Aug

A picture of US President Donald Trump in a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC

EU claims 'right' to regulate tech after Trump threat

The European Commission asserted the "sovereign right" to regulate the activities of tech giants within the bloc and rejected claims by President Donald Trump that its rules unfairly harm US firms.

US • 26 Aug

Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke speaking on Morning Ireland programme

'Significant challenges' in global trade, minister warns

Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke has warned there are "very significant challenges" and a "huge amount of global trading tensions", as the Government announced new supports to mitigate the impact of US tariffs on Irish businesses.

Ireland • 25 Aug

Postal containers are pictured at a Deutsche Post loading area in Munich, Germany

German post office restricts packages to US over tariffs

Germany's postal service has announced a raft of temporary restrictions on package deliveries to the United States due to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

World • 25 Aug

German post office restricts packages to US over tariffs

Germany's postal service announced today a raft of temporary restrictions on package deliveries to the US due to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

Business • 22 Aug

US tariffs 'put Irish drinks firms at a disadvantage'

The 15% tariff on Irish drinks exports to the US is a "disappointment" that will put the sector at a disadvantage, according to one of the country's leading distillers.

Business • 22 Aug

a German flag with a candle stick graph imposed on it

German economy slows 0.3% in Q2 as US tariffs hit exports

The German economy contracted by 0.3% in the second quarter of 2025 compared with the previous quarter, the statistics office said today, revising its preliminary reading of a 0.1% contraction.

Business • 22 Aug

J&J to invest $2 billion to boost US manufacturing

Johnson & Johnson said today it would invest $2 billion in North Carolina as it aims to expand its US manufacturing presence amid looming drug import duties proposed by President Donald Trump's administration.

Business • 21 Aug

Today's EU-US statement was produced after weeks of wrangling

What's in Trump's trade deal with Europe?

The US and the European Union agreed a joint statement on the framework trade deal struck at the end of July to end months of uncertainty for industries and consumers.

Business • 21 Aug

US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (L) following their meeting, in Turnberry south west Scotland

Taoiseach, Tánaiste welcome 'clarity' on EU-US trade deal

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris has said the EU-US framework trade agreement, published today, provides welcome clarity that the deal includes a single, all-inclusive 15% tariff on EU goods.

Business • 22 Aug

PlayStation prices to rise in US as tariffs bite

Sony said it is bumping up the price of PlayStation 5 video game consoles by $50 in the US due to a "challenging economic environment."

Business • 21 Aug

French champagne harvest begins with 'promising' outlook

France's Champagne region kicked off its official grape harvest today, with producers predicting a "promising" yield after an early start brought on by hot weather.

Business • 20 Aug

European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde

US-EU trade deal not far from ECB's baseline forecast

The trade deal between the US and the EU is close to the baseline assumed by the European Central Bank, but uncertainty persists in key sectors like pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, ECB President Christine Lagarde said today.

Business • 20 Aug

407 product types are being added to a list of items considered steel and aluminum 'derivative products' (file image)

US broadens reach of steel and aluminum tariffs

The US has broadened the reach of its steel and aluminum tariffs, the Commerce Department said, impacting hundreds more products that contain both metals such as child seats, tableware and heavy equipment.

Business • 19 Aug

A woman with red painted nails holds a Swiss army knife above trays of knives

Swiss army knife maker Victorinox mulls production shift

Victorinox, the maker of Swiss army knives, is considering moving part of its production to the US to lessen the impact of import tariffs on its business, the company's CEO told German business magazine WirtschaftsWoche.

Business • 19 Aug

S&P affirms US 'AA+' credit rating, cites tariff revenue

S&P Global has affirmed its 'AA+' credit rating on the US, saying the revenue from President Donald Trump's tariffs will offset the fiscal hit from his recent tax-cut and spending bill.

Business • 19 Aug

June figures show how volatile exports can be - Davy

Goods exports fell in June, but this does not imply any slowdown in real economic activity, according to new analysis from Davy Stockbrokers.

Business • 18 Aug

Monthly export figures down 26% in June - CSO

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that on a monthly basis, the value of exports fell sharply in June, down 26.3% from May as exports to the US slowed significantly.

Business • 15 Aug

Pandorast shares have 36% of their value since hitting a record high in January

Pandora shares plummet on weakening European sales

Shares in Danish jewellery maker Pandora plummeted today after the company flagged weakening sales in its key European markets, only partially offset by robust sales in the US.

Business • 15 Aug

Japan's GDP rose 1% on an annualised basis in the second quarter, new figures show today

Japan posts unexpectedly strong GDP, helped by exports

Japan's economy grew much faster than expected in the second quarter as export volumes held up well against new US tariffs, giving the central bank some of the conditions it needs to resume interest rate hikes this year.

Business • 15 Aug

Birkenstock beats profit forecast on strong sales

German sandal maker Birkenstock has today beaten third-quarter profit expectations, helped by strong full-price sales of its sandals and shoes, and said it was well placed to manage the impact of the 15% US tariff on European imports.

Business • 14 Aug

Euro zone industry shrinks more than feared in June

Euro zone industrial output dipped more than expected in June even as overall economic growth held up in the second quarter, challenging views that the 20 nation currency union remains resilient to the fallout from a global trade war.

Business • 14 Aug

Carlsberg misses H1 forecasts, warns of difficult year

Carlsberg today missed half-year profit and volume forecasts and warned it did not expect the consumer environment to improve in the rest of 2025, sending the Danish brewer's shares down almost 7% in early trading.

Business • 14 Aug

Porsche SE cuts guidance, eyes bigger defence role

Holding company Porsche, Volkswagen's largest shareholder, has today cut its full-year profit forecast, weighed down by the German automaker's weak first-half performance, while reiterating its plans to invest in the defence sector.

Business • 13 Aug