US Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne Clarke Talks Tariffs

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Bloomberg Talks

Episode: US Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne Clark Talks Tariffs

Date: May 5, 2026
Host: Bloomberg (Carol and team)
Guest: Suzanne Clark, President & CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

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Overview

This episode features Suzanne Clark, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, discussing the myriad challenges facing American businesses. The conversation centers on the themes of economic uncertainty, affordability, regulatory reform, emerging technologies, and the role of long-term strategic planning. Throughout, Clark emphasizes the importance of adapting to supply constraints, embracing innovation, and fostering public-private collaboration to sustain growth and competitiveness.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Nature of Uncertainty for Business

[00:25–01:17]

• Suzanne Clark underscores that American businesses, both large and small, are contending with significant uncertainty—from workforce shortages and inflation to AI and supply chain disruptions.
• Clark observes:

  "Businesses are really trying to deal with all of this uncertainty. What should they be doing about finding workers? ... What does AI mean? So all the things that you've been tackling all morning, business leaders are live trying to figure out themselves." (Clark, 00:48)

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2. Affordability and Structural Challenges

[01:17–02:27]

• The conversation touches on inflation and real cost pressures affecting everyday Americans—from gas to groceries.
• Clark identifies supply constraints as the "root of the affordability problem":

  "We don't have enough housing, we don't have enough access to health care. We have labor shortages in key sectors. We don't have a resilient supply chain." (Clark, 01:50)

• Emphasizes long-term economic growth hinges on addressing these structural issues for sustained prosperity.

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3. The Case for Permitting Reform

[02:27–03:14]

• Asked what single issue could be transformational, Clark is unequivocal:

  "I really think it would be permitting reform. Think about the fact that it takes five to seven years to get a permit." (Clark, 02:35)

• The lengthy, politically exposed process discourages investment and adaptability:

  "In that time, you'll have a change of administrations, most likely, right? ... How do you decide where to invest and what to build?" (Clark, 02:35)

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4. Shifting to Long-term Perspective

[02:54–03:53]

• The hosts probe how American stakeholders can commit beyond the election cycle—unlike countries such as China with longer-term plans.
• Clark argues for broadening engagement:

  "We do need government to set the conditions so that we can grow, so business can solve these problems at scale that society really needs answers to." (Clark, 03:14)

• Advocates for:
  • Grassroots engagement through local chambers for political support of hard reforms.
  • Earlier business involvement in political primaries to support candidates willing to tackle tough issues.

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5. Navigating Regulation and Embracing Innovation: Crypto & Financial Technology

[03:53–05:55]

• On the Trump administration's approach to crypto, Clark reflects on the Chamber's long institutional memory, indicating caution and consideration:

  "How did they think about emerging technologies, emerging financial instruments?... How do we do the long term right things while being empathetic to the real short term pain?" (Clark, 04:32)

• The Chamber aims to balance openness to innovation with protecting what "really works in this country":

  "We want to do is be supportive of new technologies at the same time that we don't lose sight of what really works in this country in the traditional capital markets and traditional financial services." (Clark, 05:22)

• On the risk/reward tension of digital disruption to banks:

  "At what point is that innovation good? And at what point is that disruption dangerous? ... So I applaud these industries ... that are educating Congress, getting to a point where we can do something that makes sense and makes sense for business." (Clark, 05:55)

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6. AI and the American Workforce

[05:55–07:19]

• Host raises concerns about AI's impact on jobs, referencing the "next industrial revolution."
• Clark offers a positive take:

  "Do you want to hear something cool? ... The people having the fastest uptake of AI: small business. It's the first technology ... that small business embraced first, which is really a leveling out. A great equalizer." (Clark, 06:30)

• Notes 5.6 million new business starts last year, attributing some to AI's empowerments.
• Acknowledges disruption but projects optimism:

  "Of course everyone can see there's a disruption coming... But the short term disruption I think is going to lead to a nice hockey stick." (Clark, 07:19)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"We need all of the above. We've got to take some of these structural issues really seriously."
(Clark, 01:50–01:53)

"You decide where to invest and what to build? And yet at the same time, as you've reported, we need all of the above."
(Clark, 02:35)

"We certainly do not want a government planned economy. None of us are for that. But you're right that we do need government to set the conditions so that we can grow."
(Clark, 03:14)

"We actually do need institutions with historical memory and reach. And I think it's really important."
(Clark, 05:17)

"It's the first technology in the United States that small business embraced first, which is really a leveling out. Right. A great equalizer."
(Clark, 06:30)

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Timeline of Important Segments

• 00:25–01:17: Overview of current business uncertainties
• 01:17–02:27: Affordability, inflation, and supply constraints
• 02:27–03:14: Importance of permitting reform
• 03:14–03:53: Shifting to long-term economic strategy
• 03:53–05:55: Thoughts on crypto, regulation, and balancing innovation with security
• 05:55–07:19: AI’s impact on small business and the workforce; optimism for innovation-led growth

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Tone & Closing

Suzanne Clark maintains an even, pragmatic tone throughout—acknowledging real challenges, advocating for measured reforms, and consistently injecting optimism about American resilience and innovation, particularly among small businesses and entrepreneurs.

"Last year the United States had 5.6 million new business starts. That's optimism for you."
(Clark, 06:30)

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Transcript

[Indiana University Announcer]

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[Suzanne Clark]

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[Carol]

All the conversations we've had lead up to this. Whether we talked about energy, higher costs, inflation, supply chains, geopolit, politics, politics in Washington, Suzanne Clark is with us. She's President CEO of the U.S. chamber of Commerce, a great voice when it comes to what's going on in the, in the business community, what is top of mind? Because the laundry list of things that is coming at American businesses right now is a lot.

[Suzanne Clark]

Well, thank you so much. Thank you for having me. I was saying a minute ago that we were just with the LA Chamber yesterday and it's such an opportunity to get out and talk to local businesses, big and small, about what's happening in their community. And what we see is businesses really trying to deal with all of this uncertainty. What should they be doing about finding workers? What should they be doing about their supply chains? What will happen with the economy? What does AI mean? So all the things that you've been tackling all morning, business leaders are live trying to figure out themselves.

[Interviewer]

What conversations are you having when it comes to affordability? I know you were on a panel today with Neera Tanden. It was on a broadcast a little bit earlier. Both of you, I'm sure, coming from different perspectives when you're trying to keep American business in mind, knowing price pressures from the gas pump to the grocery store are very real. You reached for the word uncertainty first. How do you speak with your members about this, of the challenges they're facing and about to face?

[Suzanne Clark]

Well, you know, let me say first that Neera and I had violent agreement about the need for permitting reform.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Suzanne Clark]

That we really need to build things faster. All of it, right? It's housing, it's electricity, it's utility costs, it's, you know, so what could we do as a country to build things faster, more efficiently and cheaper? So that comes up with affordability. The U.S. chamber, we really believe a lot of the root of the affordability problem is a supply constraint. Right. We don't have enough housing, we don't have enough access to health care. We have labor shortages in key sectors. We don't have a resilient supply chain. So the question is if we want long term economic growth, 3% growth that lifts up families and communities in the country and helps people pay off debt. If we want all of that. We've got to take some of these structural issues really seriously.

[Carol]

Like which one? If we could tackle one right now, in this given moment, what would it be that you think the American businesses could really get behind and say, this

[Suzanne Clark]

is a game changer? I really think it would be permitting reform. Think about the fact that it takes five to seven years to get a permit. In that time, you'll have a change of administrations, most likely, right? So if you have one administration that prefers one type of energy, and if a different administration that prefers a different type of energy, how do you decide where to invest and what to build? And yet at the same time, as you've reported, we need all of the above.

[Carol]

Suzanne, how do we get there, though? Because I think about, you know, the American business community, they have a great line often to the White House and to lawmakers. So how do they say, hey, folks, it's not just about four years, four years, four years. It's about a 10 year plan. China does it. It's a whole different country. And I know that. But how do we do that so that we really commit longer term to build some of these things that need that perspective?

[Suzanne Clark]

That's such a good point, Carol, because we certainly do not want a government planned economy. Right. None of us are for that. But you're right that we do need government to set the conditions so that we can grow, so business can solve these problems at scale that society really needs answers to. And I think maybe we have to do two things a little differently. One is talk to more people at the local level, local businesses, local chambers, and get them to drive community support for politicians who are willing to do some hard things. And two, I think businesses are going to have to get more involved earlier in the process, in the primary process, and really thinking about cannabis candidates who don't want to just admire the problems and say expedient things, but are willing to do hard work and take hard votes.

[Interviewer]

You know, I think about you sitting in your headquarters right, right across from Lafayette Square, looking out the window at that White House. You've been there a lot longer than this administration. And to your point, you're going to be there for administrations in the future. But this Trump administration has embraced crypto in a way that we have not seen in a White House before. And of course, the timing has a lot to do with this, with this suddenly kind of going mainstream. And there's a clarity act that Republicans and some Democrats are hoping to see past this, this year. In fact, it could be Sooner than later. Are we managing the rules of the road when it comes to crypto in a way that the Chamber can support this approach?

[Suzanne Clark]

I really like the question and I really. Even more like the preamble. Right. Which is we just had 114th birthday. I know I don't look at day over 112. I really thank you. I really feel the weight of the fact that, you know, who was the guy in my office in the Depression or in World War II or, you know, and how did they think about emerging technologies, emerging financial instruments? How did they think about the impact on working families and communities and American security and competitiveness? And how do we do the long term right things while being empathetic to the real short term pain? So I think your preamble was just so important. We actually do need institutions with historical memory and reach. And I think it's really important.

[Interviewer]

Sound like an institutionalist is. But the Chamber not taking a position on crypto.

[Suzanne Clark]

Look, I think what we want to do is be supportive of new technologies at the same time that we don't lose sight of what really works in this country in the traditional capital markets and traditional financial services.

[Carol]

Watching this so closely.

[Suzanne Clark]

That's right.

[Carol]

And they've gone from pushing back completely. Not interested to embracing slowly, but I think moving carefully. But there is this concern, we talk about disruption, innovation, that how could something like the digital world or crypto currencies replace so much of what the banks do? So is there a lot of pushback that you guys are getting the banks?

[Suzanne Clark]

At what point is that innovation good? And is what point that. Is that disruption dangerous? Right. And it's what you're always balancing with the new technology. And so I applaud these industries and these companies that are educating Congress, getting to a point where we can do something that makes sense and makes sense for business.

[Interviewer]

It's of course not just crypto. When we think of emerging technologies. There's another industrial revolution happening right now.

[Carol]

Have you heard of it?

[Interviewer]

Take the words from Jensen Long. That's what he calls it. How concerned is the Chamber about? To your point, there are wonderful things that AI is bringing to us, but there could also be a negative disruption when it comes to the job market. Is that a worry of yours?

[Suzanne Clark]

Do you want to hear something cool? The fastest. The people having the fastest uptake of AI. Small business. Okay. It's the first technology in the United States that small business embraced first, which is really a leveling out. Right. A great equalizer. Last year the United States had 5.6 million new business starts. That's optimism for you. Some of that is that they can do more with AI, which is really fascinating. So the answer to your question is, of course everyone can see there's a disruption coming. We don't have revolutions without some kind of disruption. So how do we help people through that? Because we're long term optimistic about job growth, about health impact, about the innovation, about what it does for our country. We want to compete with our adversaries. Right. So I think this is a really important topic and we're going have to do reskilling and education. But the short term disruption I think is going to lead to a nice hockey stick.

[Carol]

You know, we need a little bit of optimism. I feel like there's a lot of serious stuff we've talked about.

[Interviewer]

Let's take it. Yes.

[Carol]

Thank you for the optimism that A pleasure. Thank you so much.

[Suzanne Clark]

Thanks so much for having me.

[Carol]

Suzanne Clark, president and CEO of the U.S. chamber of Commerce if you follow

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