Despite headwinds from inflation, interest rates and geopolitical issues, dealmaking has trudged forward in 2023. Now, the political debate over whether to raise the debt ceiling will likely throw another wrench into M&A dealmaking discussions this year, and it could have far-reaching and lengthy consequences.

“Some of the toughest headwinds for the M&A market these days are the rising inflationary environment and, more specifically, the Fed’s actions to raise interest rates and uncertainty as to when interest rates will settle,” Damien Zoubek, co-head of Freshfields Bruckhaus & Derringer’s U.S. corporate and M&A practice, said in an email.