Trade war weakens export outlook for Finnish companies

Abstract

The Finnish corporate sector has been squeezed by various crises in recent years. Companies have nevertheless been able to service their loans well, for the most part. However, the weak economy and high interest rates have hindered debt servicing especially for smaller companies and in certain industries, such as construction. The United States is a key export destination for Finnish companies, and the threat of a trade war escalation creates new risks especially for export-driven industries, such as manufacturing companies.