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ICC Pulse Survey 2025: Business reactions to new U.S. tariffs
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) conducted a pulse survey of its global business network from 3 -11 April 2025. The Survey assesses the impact of newly announced U.S. tariff measures.
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Conducted after the announcement of new U.S. tariff measures on 2 April 2025, the ICC Pulse Survey gathered insights from 448 companies across 68 countries, spanning a wide range of company sizes and sectors. The findings reveal deep concern among businesses worldwide regarding rising costs, supply chain uncertainty, and the threat of trade retaliation.
The survey findings cover:
- Global business sentiment in the wake of the 2 April tariff announcement
- Regional, sectoral, company-size breakdowns of the expected impacts and top concerns
- Business outlook for the next 6-12 months
Key findings:
- 60% of respondents view the new tariffs negatively
- Top concerns include increased costs (64%), planning uncertainty (47%), and supply chain disruptions (45%)
- Ripple effects are being felt in service sectors like accommodation and food services
- Large companies are twice as likely as SMEs to cite trade retaliation as a top concern (50% vs. 25–35%)
- Over 70% of businesses reported either heightened caution or a more pessimistic outlook for the coming 6–12 months —signaling broader apprehension about economic stability
3 in 10 businesses now report a more pessimistic outlook
4 in 10 say they are more cautious about the next 6–12 months
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