Trade

We've reached 10 years of economic expansion and yet, many CEOs seem to be anxious. The biggest worry rhymes with Smariffs, but that’s hardly the only concern. Amid this darkening mood, Chief Executive Editor-in-Chief Dan Bigman shares a few reasons to be optimistic.

Take it from someone who knows President Trump’s divide-and-conquer tactics fairly well, U.S. business leaders need to unite in championing an alternative method to the trade war.

CEO confidence in future business conditions fell 6% in August from July, according to Chief Executive’s most recent polling. At 6.2 out of 10 on our 1-10 scale, confidence is at its lowest level since October 2016.

The landscape in the U.S. automotive business has changed significantly since the last time the Detroit Three automakers and the United Auto Workers agreed on new national contracts in 2015.

Amid announcements of new tariffs on China and, at the time of polling, Mexico, CEOs’ outlook for future business conditions plunged 6 percent from May to June, according to Chief Executive’s most recent reading of CEO confidence.

In the midst of a pitched battle with Wall Street, rising global trade tensions, growing anti-business sentiment and incredible technological change, we asked FedEx founder and CEO Fred Smith about his company, his leadership—and what to watch for next.

President Trump’s escalation of the trade fight with China may have spooked global markets, but U.S. CEOs are taking it in stride so far, according to Chief Executive’s monthly reading of CEO confidence.

The issue of tariffs remains unresolved and, paired with slowing global growth, those concerns weighed down CEO confidence in April, warranting caution and influencing companies to pause large capital projects.

CEOs across every sector have spent the last two years trying to discern what to do in the face of Trump’s trade policy—whether they agree with his goals or not.

CEOs have revived optimism stemming from robust economic conditions, solid consumer demand, strong earnings, and easy access to capital.