On January 16, U.S. Chamber President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark gave the Chamber's annual "State of American Business" address. The State of American Business is local because businesses serve people where they are. Wherever a company, a service, a product, or a solution originates, its impact is always local. Because local is where we live our lives,” Clark stressed.

This year's program was held in Dallas, Texas, one of America’s fastest-growing economic regions, to illustrate key areas policymakers need to focus on to succeed.

To help local communities thrive, Clark said that D.C.-based policymakers must do their part. She called on the 119th Congress and the new administration to focus on three immediate pro-growth priorities: 

• Rolling back excessive regulation.
• Preserving the competitive tax provisions of 2017.
• Participating in the global economy.

Clark said that to boost economic growth, America must participate in the global economy, which already supports 40 million U.S. jobs and makes goods and services more affordable. She cautioned against the broad use of tariffs.

“Tariffs can be a tool—for instance, to counter unfairly traded goods—those subsidized or dumped in our market,” Clark said. “However, blanket tariffs would worsen the cost-of-living crisis, forcing Americans to pay even more for daily essentials like groceries, gas, furniture, appliances, and clothing. The bottom line is this: tariffs are a tax paid by Americans and their broad and indiscriminate use would stifle growth at the worst possible time.”

Watch now: The State of American Business 2025