SAN JOSE — Uncertainties over tax policies and tariffs are weighing on decisions that businesses are making locally and nationwide, an official with a major business advocacy group said during an event in San Jose.
Nikkie Nguyen, U. S. Chamber of Commerce government affairs manager for the lobbying group’s Western Region, offered some perspectives on Thursday about the debate over taxes, trade policies and tariffs.
Competing ideas on these economic and business topics have roiled Wall Street, Main Street and the Beltway in recent months.
Nguyen appeared at an event hosted by the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, which has become increasingly active in scheduling business leaders to speak at gatherings on a growing number of topics.
“We don’t know the implications about tariffs and trade, especially since things could go either way,” Nguyen said during a question-and-answer session at the downtown San Jose event.
President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose an array of reciprocal tariffs to combat what the White House deems to be unfair trade barriers for exports of products made in the United States.
Some U.S. trading partners have begun taking steps to retaliate with countermeasures to protect their exports, while other trading partners have indicated they might ease up on their tariffs to avoid duties imposed by the U.S.
The United Auto Workers union, whose members include workers at the vast Tesla electric vehicle factor in Fremont, is in discussions with President Trump regarding tariffs and trade policies. Some higher duties on numerous imported goods are slated to roll into effect in April. UAW officials believe the NAFTA free trade pact has harmed many auto workers.
“The UAW is in active negotiations with the Trump Administration about their plans to end the free trade disaster,” the union said in a prepared release. “We look forward to working with the White House to shape the auto tariffs in April to benefit the working class.”
The back-and-forth has unsettled some business owners, in the view of Leah Toeniskoetter, president of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce.
“Uncertainty makes people nervous,” Toeniskoetter said during the question-and-answer session.
During Nguyen’s presentation to the San Jose group, much of the discussion centered on taxes, trade policies and tariff impacts.
After the presentation, Nguyen answered some questions from this news organization regarding the tariffs, taxes and trade issues being pondered by the White House.
Nguyen said some regional chambers of commerce are raising concerns about the possible impacts that tariffs might unleash.
“The concern that we have received is from our local chamber partners,” Nguyen said. “There is uncertainty on the part of business owners and consumers about all of these issues.”
Business owners freeze their activities when they aren’t sure about the outcome of major government policies.
“We don’t know what to do,” Nguyen said. “There are supply-chain logistics, the need to reorganize logistics because of tariffs.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is determined to make its views felt, including speaking out to the White House and congressional representatives regarding tariffs and tax policies.
“We have always had a voice at the table,” Nguyen said. “We are the biggest business advocacy entity. We are trying to be innovative and stay ahead of all the recent changes.”