HELSINKI, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Up to 80 percent of Finnish export companies expressed concerns that U.S. President Donald Trump's policies weaken their prospects, according to a survey published on Thursday.
The survey conducted by Finland's Chamber of Commerce showed that the export companies have halved their confidence in the U.S. market in the past three months, compared to the level in December. Less than a third now believe in growth.
"The message of the survey aimed at export companies is clear: trust in the United States has taken a hit," said Paivi Pohjanheimo, director of international affairs at the Finland Chamber of Commerce. The volatility of Trump's trade policy is creating great uncertainty for Finnish export companies, he added.
The survey also reveals that the attractiveness of the U.S. market is decreasing. Only 28 percent of polled companies said that the importance of the U.S. market is increasing, while up to 16 percent feel it is waning, a figure that stood at just 3 percent three months ago.
Trump's transactional policy, the relationship between his rhetoric and initial political stances, and the use of trade policy ultimately caught many off guard, Pohjanheimo stated.
Furthermore, Finnish companies' interest in expanding or starting a business in the United States has halved in the past three months. Only 9 percent of companies are now considering starting or expanding their business there if Trump imposes the tariffs on Europe, marking a sharp decline from 18.5 percent in December.
Pohjanheimo underlined that tariffs have a negative impact not only on international trade but also ultimately on the American consumer's own wallet.
The survey was conducted between March 4 and March 7, 2025. A total of 110 companies from all over Finland responded to the survey.
