Global Trade Strategic & Advisory Services

The global trade environment is shifting. Integrated supply and value chains, once supported by a rules-based free trade system, are giving way to fractured supply chains and regional markets. Businesses now face real-time changes to tariffs, trade rules, and market access priorities. In this environment, making strategic decisions is challenging. Companies must factor in the geopolitical landscape, tariff changes, heightened risk, and evolving sustainability regulations across the globe. For the mid-market in particular, these challenges are amplified. Outside of the largest multinationals, most businesses either do not have in-house global teams to navigate this complexity, or are already stretched resource-wise.

BDO Global Trade Strategic & Advisory Services was developed to bridge that gap. Our integrated service helps businesses plan for growth, protect margins, and adapt to a rapidly changing global risk landscape. Check our Comprehensive Tax Solutions package for Irish companies looking to grow globally. Also, for practical customs and trade guidance, see our Trade Guide for Tariffs and Trade which outlines the steps businesses can take to manage tariffs, compliance, and customs challenges.

Supporting your business in a changing landscape


Our role is to help you plan with clarity and confidence. By combining local insight with the expertise of BDO specialists worldwide, we give you practical support to understand risks and opportunities, adapt to global changes, and make stronger trade decisions. This integrated approach connects you seamlessly to our wider services, including:


Keep your goods moving smoothly across borders with clear advice on customs, tariffs and global trade rules.

Navigate cross-border tax with confidence and structure your business for efficient, compliant growth.

Strengthen your organisation by identifying risks early and turning them into opportunities for resilience.

Focus on growing your venture while we help build the finance and advisory support it needs to scale.

Protect your global operations with compliant, transparent and efficient transfer pricing policies.

Meet ESG and climate goals, attract investment, and create long-term value through practical sustainability strategies.

Our team helps you protect and grow your business by advising on trade challenges and connecting you with the right Government Funding opportunities for international expansion.

Get in touch!

Services & Solutions

BDO’s Global Trade Advisory services are designed to help businesses manage the growing complexity of cross-border trade. Whether you’re moving goods internationally, adapting to regulatory change, or planning for supply chain resilience, we work with you to anticipate risks and identify practical opportunities. Specifically we can provide customs and trade advice with regard to:

  • US Tariffs: In the current changing environment of US tariffs and their application we can advise you on the specific rules in place, how they apply to your business and whether there are opportunities to mitigate the new tariff costs. We can also advise you on the steps to take now to address the new tariffs including those laid in out in our Trade Guide for Tariffs and Trade
  • Market Diversification: We can advise you on the trade rules applicable to accessing new markets in terms of tariffs, local taxes and regulatory requirements such as the potential need to have an established entity in place or local representative
  • Specialist support: We can provide additional specific tailored assistance where your current customs and trade team needs specialist input and additional support as demands on their time build. We see this particularly being required in Classification support, Origin Verification and understanding of the new Free Trade Agreements
  • Lobbying: We can assist with lobbying the authorities to have your products included on exemption lists 
  • Valuation and Transfer Pricing: We can review your Customs Valuation procedures to look at potential for reducing the valuation for customs purposes, in conjunction with our TP colleagues
  • Sanctions: As sanctions become an increasing concern for exporters, we can assist you navigate the application of these export controls to ensure you comply with the increasing number of EU rules in this area.

Our tailored advice supports you with:

  • Timely insights – We provide clear, practical updates—like our Global Trade Information Hub—to support decision-making in a fast-changing landscape.
  • Cross-border strategy – Practical support with origin rules & regulations, customs valuation, import/export requirements and AEO certification to keep goods moving efficiently.
  • Operational improvement – A focus on risk management and cost-efficiency, helping you simplify processes and reduce exposure to delays or penalties.

As part of the BDO global network, we bring a broad perspective and local expertise—ensuring our advice is both commercially relevant and grounded in the realities of international trade. For more information, you can browse our Customs & International Trade Services. 

We help companies understand and mitigate the effects of tariffs, indirect barriers to trade, and sector-specific duties on a global basis. 

When you work with BDO, you benefit from clarity and guidance with international trade challenges, including new customs regulations, tariffs, import/export requirements, and market access requirements as you look to diversify your markets.

We can also support with scenario planning and help you anticipate and navigate international trade challenges, from shifting tariffs and sanctions to supply chain disruptions and regulatory changes.

In particular with the changes to US tariffs, we offer timely and critical advisory services to enable you to minimise the impact on your business. Learn more here - Global Trade Updates - BDO

We advise on the customs and trade regulations specific to exporting to new markets as well as the import requirements into the EU.

Customs & International Trade Services

Irish companies in 2025 are increasingly looking to expand globally and at the same time are trying to understand the International Tax implications of same. These growth opportunities are driving business decisions across borders, creating the potential for greater value while significantly increasing tax complexity and risk.  

We recognise that businesses and organisations operating internationally face many challenges: managing their global tax burden, understanding global trade, complying with evolving regulatory and reporting standards, and mitigating supply chain disruption, to name a few. We understand that global tax compliance is complex. With BDO, your business benefits from a focus on international tax planning that mitigates compliance risk while supporting your strategic growth.

We can assist you in this regard through our International Tax Practice in Ireland.

We work with international business around the world. Whatever the size of your business or the challenges it has, we invest the time to properly understand the business, its strategy, and how tax can contribute to your overall success. For further information, visit our Tax Practice and Services here.

We support you manage the risks around sanctions and embargoes to ensure you remain compliant and on top of the regulatory requirements at all times.

You can benefit from advice on the EU Sustainability Regulations in place to enable companies to access the EU market, continue to attract finance and investment, and meet climate targets. Browse our Sustainability Services and see how BDO can help.

Benefit from guidance on navigating complex trade regulations and compliance requirements.

Get strategic advice and support to assess trade risks and opportunities.

We provide insights and analysis on evolving trade policies and regulations, such as those related to EU/US trade. You can stay up-to-date with these here.

BDO hosts events and webcasts to discuss current trade challenges and provide guidance on navigating them. 

Sign up here to stay updated on these events.

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Guidance for Leaders

One of the key questions we hear from boards and CEOs is: how can leadership stay informed and capable of responding to trade disruption? At BDO, we believe the answer lies in embracing risk with an anti-fragile mindset, anticipating protectionist measures such as tariffs, sanctions and incentives, and taking proactive steps to safeguard operations and protect margins. We explore this further in the following article.
Learn more


Why choose BDO


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Timely insights

Get access to up-to-date information and analysis on relevant global trends and developments.

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 Practical advice 

Every solution we bring is practical and actionable, designed to help you address specific challenges and opportunities.

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Client-centric approach 

We work closely with you to understand your specific needs and develop customised solutions.

Trade with confidence!
Partnering with BDO gives you the insight and strategies to turn global trade challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth. Along with advising you on your business needs, we can also help you identify the right supports available to enable you to plan ahead and overcome the current tariff scenario.

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Carol Lynch

Tax Partner & Head of Customs and International Trade Services, BDO Dublin
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