Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission to Examine Opportunities for Economic Partnership

What this means

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Official release

Source material from Vermont Office of the State Treasurer. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

Montpelier, VT – Tomorrow, a coalition of Vermont lawmakers, policy experts, and economic development officials will convene the first meeting of the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission.

The group will examine strategies to strengthen bilateral trade, investment, and economic partnership between both respective regions. Vermont and Ireland share several economic sectors of interest, including agriculture, clean energy, and innovation.

Act 65 of 2025 established the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission under the authority of the Treasurer’s Office. “Strengthening economic ties with Ireland will grow Vermont businesses, create good-paying jobs, and attract more dollars into our communities,” said Treasurer Pieciak. “As President Trump turns his back on our most trusted allies, Vermont is choosing a better path—one that will expand opportunity for Vermonters and our partners overseas.”

While the Commission is unlikely to directly engage in negotiating trade policy, the group will maintain an advisory role and serve as a replicable model for other international partnerships. Annually, a report will be delivered to the Governor and the Legislature with findings and potential recommendations to support mutual economic growth.

Megan Sullivan, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the shared economic strengths that make Vermont and Ireland natural partners.

"The Emerald Isle and the Green Mountain State share a deep connection to the land, a spirit of independence, and economies driven by small businesses, skilled manufacturers, and world class food and agriculture producers,” said Sullivan. “The Vermont Ireland Trade Commission brings those strengths together to open doors for businesses, spark new partnerships, and turn shared connections into economic opportunity on both sides of the Atlantic. As commissioners, we're excited to get to work and bring these possibilities to life."

Interest in establishing the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission can be traced back to Global Ireland Strategies, the country's foreign policy strategy for the United States and Canada between 2019 and 2025. The strategy’s primary objective was "for Ireland to double its impact and influence in the world by 2025.”

In March 2025, New Jersey Assemblywoman Carol Murphey testified before the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development in support of the creation of a state-level trade commission in Vermont. Representative Murphey described how a New Jersey-Ireland Trade Committee drove $22.4 billion in increased NJ-Ireland trade in 2021.

Learn more about the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission here.

Commission Members:

Bill Shouldice – Commissioner, Vermont Department of Taxes

John Campbell – Former President Pro Tempore of the Vermont Senate

Representative Shawn Sweeney – Chittenden 7

Annie Noonan – Former Commissioner, Vermont Department of Labor

Senator Pat Brennan – Grand Isle District

Megan Sullivan – Vice President of Government Affairs, Vermont Chamber of Commerce

Kate O'Connor – Treasury Appointee; Vice Chair of the Brattleboro Selectboard and former Executive Director of the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce

Tim Tierney – Director of Business Recruitment and International Trade, Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development

Wendy Koenig – Executive Director of Government Relations, University of Vermont

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Release text attributed to Vermont Office of the State Treasurer. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.