Tariffs, trade tensions worry Fortune 500 CEOs: U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Tariffs and trade tensions are a huge source of worry for U.S. companies, with nearly half of Fortune 500 companies referencing such concerns during last quarter’s earnings calls, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said on Thursday. Tariffs or trade tensions and their impact on business performance were referenced 1,150 times during 188 of the 437 calls discussing quarterly financial results recorded from late August to late November, a study conducted by the Chamber showed. The highest level of concern was voiced by the retail sector, which has been hit hard by tariffs over the last 17 months, followed by manufacturing firms, and transportation and logistics companies, the Chamber said. The group, which represents over 3 million U.S. companies, said its findings tracked with results seen in the previous quarter, underscoring ongoing deep concerns about current and potential trade conflicts.