Business Concerns About Tariffs Continue To Rise

Reduced request from world markets and accrued regulatory complexity are among nan challenges that tariffs are posing businesses. Credit: Wang Chun/VCG via Getty Images.

Concerns astir tariffs among businesses globally person continued to emergence importantly complete nan past six months, according to a caller report.

The astir caller version of nan Tariffs Sentiment Polls study by GlobalData, Just Food‘s parent, shows that 37% of 444 businesses polled are importantly much concerned astir tariffs than they were six months ago. The fig represents nan first notable slowdown successful rising concerns for astir half a year, pinch it having remained successful nan mid-50s since April.

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Despite that, it shows that business concerns astir tariffs person continued to emergence importantly passim 2025 and proceed to do so.

The main situation reported by companies is higher input costs, pinch 58% indicating arsenic overmuch compared to 50% successful April. Then, uncertainty successful semipermanent readying had been nan main situation reported, pinch 57% of businesses flagging nan issue. Despite uncertainty now placing 2nd among challenges faced, it remains a awesome interest astatine 54%.

“Many companies already look rising expenses from a level 10% tariff connected exports to nan US, on pinch broader pricing impacts from tariffs,” GlobalData’s study says. “These costs will apt summation arsenic nan caller reciprocal tariff rates are felt crossed industries. Many businesses will inevitably walk higher input costs onto customers, which ties into our business community’s overwhelming position that precocious tariffs will summation inflation.”

Among nan different challenges faced are reduced request from world markets (33%) and accrued regulatory complexity (35%). GlobalData notes that nan second is up six percent points since May, adding that “businesses person faced a whirlwind of compliance disorder owed to fluctuating US reciprocal tariff rates.”

In consequence to nan tariffs being imposed by nan Trump management successful nan US and counter-tariffs elsewhere, astir half of companies are expanding prices aliases scheme to do so, while only 13% of companies person nary plans to raise prices.

“For companies not expanding prices successful 2025, reducing operational aliases accumulation costs is by acold nan main strategy being utilized to negociate rising expenses,” nan study details. “77% of respondents successful August expected ostentation to summation owed to tariffs.”

GlobalData adds that tariffs are now shaping less semipermanent finance and description decisions, pinch 45% of respondents indicating this.

“Many firms whitethorn now see tariffs arsenic nan ‘new normal’ successful US waste and acquisition relations, and having adjusted areas for illustration proviso chains and pricing, nan effect of tariffs has been baked into semipermanent strategical planning,” it says.