Behind closed doors, a majority of CEOs admit they won't boost U.S. investment as tariffs hurt their businesses | Fortune

""The Administration is working closely with business leaders to restore America as the most dynamic economy in the world, and trillions in historic investment commitments reflect how the Administration is implementing an aggressive pro-growth agenda of tax cuts, deregulation, and energy abundance," White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement. "These policies ushered in historic job, wage, economic, and investment growth in President Trump's first term - and they're set to repeat the success in President Trump's second term.""

"During a closed-door gathering Wednesday of top executives that was organized by the Yale School of Management, attendees were asked if they planned to invest more in U.S. manufacturing and infrastructure-and 62% said no. Yale management professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld told the Wall Street Journal that tariffs, immigration crackdown and economic worries have eroded their confidence about making new investments. "They're holding back doing anything," he said."

"To be sure, the Trump administration has secured pledges from top companies like Apple and Nvidia to invest in U.S. production. Earlier this week, pharmaceutical companies vowed to pour money into the U.S. as well. The White House is also looking at ways to leverage $550 billion pledged by Japan in its trade deal with the U.S. to boost the construction of factories and other infrastructure, according to the Journal."

Uncertainty stemming from tariffs, immigration enforcement, and economic worries is deterring corporate investment in U.S. manufacturing and infrastructure. A closed-door Yale School of Management poll showed 62% of top executives do not plan to increase U.S. manufacturing and infrastructure investment. Seventy-one percent said tariffs have harmed their businesses, and roughly three-fourths agreed courts have ruled the global tariffs illegal. Some large firms pledged domestic production and pharmaceutical companies promised U.S. investment. The administration is pursuing incentives and exploring use of $550 billion in pledged trade funds, while 38% of CEOs expect higher capital spending soon.

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