Trump's decision to “distribute” Polish companies? ‘Not helping’

In 2017, president Andrzej Duda gave Prince William and Princess Kate a coffee service produced in Bolesławec. Ceramics in Lower Silesia was besides purchased by the Pentagon. Over the years orders from all over the planet to Bolesławek, and a crucial part of them from the United States. 15-10 years ago, about 80-90 percent of the production of Ceramic Plants Bolesławiec went to abroad markets, of which half went to American markets.

Donald Trump imposes duties. How will Polish companies manage?

The pandemic has somewhat changed the proportions, and now fresh circumstances are emerging that can put Ceramics Bets in a more hard position. Speaking of announcements, of course Donald Trump, which imposed 20 % duties on products from the European Union.

"According to the preliminary assessment, fresh US duties can reduce Polish GDP by 0.4%, i.e. in a prudent simplification the losses will exceed PLN 10 billion. The punch is severe and sad, due to the fact that from the closest ally, but we'll hold him. Our Polish-American relationship must besides last this test," wrote the Prime Minister Donald Tusk on X.

How will the celebrated Ceramic Works in Bolesławec cope with the fresh situation? We're talking to President Arkadiusz GrzesikowskiThat doesn't fall into decadent tone.

– Although president Donald Trump has since the beginning of his tenure announced the protection of the American marketplace and the introduction of customs duties on imports into the US, there was no circumstantial information on which goods the work would be introduced and how much. Now we know that 20% of the customs duties on all goods imported from the European Union and the company's management are carefully analysing the possible consequences for us as an exporter," says Interia Grzesikowski.

– So far, we haven't seen any tense reactions from our US clients., and already placed contracts are continuously carried out – he assures.

On Thursday, an interior gathering took place in Bolesławec. It follows that Donald Trump's decision will affect client orders. On the another hand, the management of the company looks optimistic due to the fact that American customers do not respond nervously, but talk calmly. – We have average optimism. We will gotta scope a compromise, and this will affect discounting or another solutions. Once the maker helps the client, erstwhile again, so we gotta complement each other. – Grzesikowski says.

Ceramics from Bolesławca. little products go to the U.S. than years ago

Interestingly, more or little since the pandemic, the American marketplace is no longer the number 1 in terms of the sale of products of the Bolesławiec Ceramics Plant. At present, the home marketplace is dominant, which is constantly developing.

– We sale more than half of our products on it. Currently, we clearly observe a very dynamic increase in home sales through our online store supported by our own stationary shops. This allows us to look optimistically at the turmoil in the US and we hope to complement the possible decline in sales outside the Ocean by home sales – Grzesikowski believes.

– The distribution of markets and sales channels has changed importantly over the last 5-7 years. Once the US marketplace was indeed dominant, but fresh developments have occurred. The US marketplace is inactive very crucial to us, and for example to large trade networks we sale 50% of our exports to the USA. In addition, we work intensively in the European Union and in the Far East – convinces Grzesikowski.

As we hear, a stronger focus on exports of products manufactured in Bolesławec has been on the business plan of the president, who has been in office for six months. Can this plan be implemented in the context of fresh movements of the American administration? “I would like to get akin sales dynamics on abroad markets as on the home market, but of course president Trump’s fresh decisions do not aid us”, Grzesikowski admits.

Ceramic plants Bolesławiec is 1 of the largest producers of hand-formed and hand-decorated table ceramics with unique stamping method in the world. The past of the Plant dates back to the beginning of 1946. The “bolesławiecka ceramics” itself has been produced in Bolesławec and its surroundings since the 14th century.

Luke Spitter