US Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Suzanne Clark Talks Economy Growth

Suzanne Clark · U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Businesses want faster, more durable permits to invest and onshore in the US.

Clark reports that business leaders at a Dallas lunch say they want to invest in the US and onshore production, but need certainty. The main piece of that certainty she names is permitting reform: permits that are easier and faster to obtain and more permanent once granted. She frames this as a practical obstacle that businesses face when deciding where to build.

“They wanna invest in The United States. They want to onshore. They need certainty. That means permitting reform. They need permits to be easier and faster to get more permanent once they get them.”at 2:22

Suzanne Clark · U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Businesses want more legal immigration and immigration reform, alongside a secure border.

Clark says the business leaders she met in Dallas are happy to see a secure border and would like immigration reform that brings in more legal immigration. She presents this alongside permitting and tariff relief as part of the certainty businesses are asking for. The implied link is to the labor shortages she describes in construction and the skilled trades.

“They are happy to see a secure border. They'd like to see immigration reform, have more legal immigration into this country.”at 2:26

Suzanne Clark · U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Businesses want lower tariffs and more trade agreements to make supply chains more consistent.

Clark says business leaders she lunched with in Dallas talk mostly about needing certainty, and that they want to onshore and invest in the US. Among the policies they want, she lists a reduction in tariffs and more trade agreements that open markets and make supply chains more consistent. Her argument is that tariffs and inconsistent trade rules raise input costs and make planning harder, so lowering them is a precondition for businesses to invest.

“the cost of inputs going down, a reduction in tariffs, more actual trade agreements that open up markets, that make supply chains more consistent.”at 2:39

Suzanne Clark · U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Businesses face a real shortage of workers for construction and the skilled trades.

Clark says the main thing businesses are telling her on the bus tour is a real lack of labor, specifically a difficulty finding people for construction and the skilled trades. She ties this to practical obstacles that stop businesses growing in their communities. She argues that fixing this shortage, which is the unglamorous work of removing constraints, would help bring down the cost of housing.

“Part of what we're hearing today is a real lack of labor, a real problem in finding people who can do construction, a real problem in the skilled trades.”at 5:32

Suzanne Clark · U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Businesses report real demand, and she calls the Dallas economy booming.

Clark says that when business leaders talk to her, the main message is that they have demand. She points to Dallas as a booming economy and credits a government that has been a good partner to business in creating the conditions for growth. Her evidence is anecdotal, drawn from lunches and a bus tour, so it is a qualitative read rather than data.

“what we hear a lot is we do have demand. I mean, again, we're here in Dallas. This is a a booming economy.”at 5:32

Suzanne Clark · U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Data centers have an economic case, but developers must work with communities on benefit deals.

Clark argues that data centers make an economic case to communities, but says the developers must participate in the community. She points to state, local and regional chambers as ready partners for community benefit arrangements that listen to residents' concerns. She rejects a top-down approach and argues that communities wanting jobs and investment should be at the table. Her view is that well-run local chambers are finding both the community and the companies satisfied.

“there is an economic case to be made, but it's also important that they're participating in these communities... I don't think this is a top down push.”at 6:51