American businesses are stuck in a whirlwind. The economy feels unstable, politics are messy, and leaders can’t agree on much – except tariffs. President Trump kicked off a wave of unpredictable tariffs that were supposed to punish China but ended up hitting U.S. companies just as hard.
President Biden doubled down, keeping most of those tariffs in place. And now, new tariffs are set to land in 2025. The result? A lot of guessing games, disrupted supply chains, and higher costs.
American businesses are trying to plan ahead while the rules keep changing. That is a problem. When business owners can’t see what is coming, they cut back. Hiring slows. Investments stall. And that is not good for the economy or for anyone with a job.
Yet, as President Calvin Coolidge once reminded us, “The business of America is business.” That still rings true. American businesses employ around 136 million people. That is 83% of the U.S. labor force. Nearly half of that number comes from small businesses.
So, when American businesses take a hit, so does everyone else.
Trump’s Reckless Tariffs Shake U.S. Companies
The world’s supply chains are shifting fast. Trump’s China tariffs pushed companies to relocate factories. Biden didn’t roll them back. Instead, tensions got worse.
Still, this new era of geopolitics is not just about risk. It is also about opportunity. U.S. companies that act now can still win. But they need to stop playing defense and start playing offense.
Accelerating Growth in a Twisted Economy
Let’s get real! Growth is still possible. But it takes smart moves, not wishful thinking. American businesses need to look at current trade policies and global tensions as signals to adjust, not freeze.
Take Nucor. When the 2018 steel tariffs hit, most companies complained. Nucor acted. It rerouted its capital, built new plants in the U.S., and tripled its profits.
Apple did the same by shifting some of its manufacturing to India, dodging tariffs and growing its market share there. That is how you turn chaos into leverage.
New tech is also helping. Companies like O9 Solutions and SAP are rolling out digital tools that track supply chains in real time. That kind of visibility means fewer surprises and smarter decisions.
Infosys, for example, recently bought a semiconductor design firm to jump into the AI and 5G race. That lines up perfectly with U.S. goals to bring chip production home. Meanwhile, a U.S. private equity firm is pulling its investments from conflict zones and focusing on places where things are more stable.
Likewise, GE Aerospace also doubled its investment in U.S. production. That is a signal. They see where the future is headed, and they are getting ahead of it. With the U.S. pushing hard to rebuild its industrial base, companies that lean in now will be better off later.
America’s Industrial Comeback Is Real!
For the first time in decades, the U.S. government is going all in on manufacturing. With laws like the Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS Act, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the feds are handing out serious money: Around $100 billion in the last two years alone. That is a game-changer for American businesses.
Just look at the numbers. Companies doubled their spending on new factories between 2022 and 2023. Green tech and semiconductors are booming, with projected investments hitting nearly half a trillion dollars by 2028. First Solar, a U.S. solar panel company, sold $700 million in tax credits last year and saw a 27% jump in revenue.