Jeffrey Sonnenfeld said that a potential third round of tariffs from President Trump is causing significant concern among corporate executives [1].
This instability matters because tariffs can disrupt global supply chains and increase operating costs for businesses, making long-term strategic planning difficult for the private sector [1].
Speaking during an interview on MSNBC’s "MS NOW" program, Sonnenfeld, the senior associate dean at the Yale School of Management, addressed the current climate of corporate anxiety [3]. He said that the prospect of additional tariffs adds "more dizzying distractions" to a landscape already marked by "ever‑spiraling failures" [1].
According to Sonnenfeld, the reaction from the business community is palpable. "CEOs are really worried," he said [1].
The Yale expert said that these policy shifts create an environment of unpredictability. He said that the threat of a third wave of tariffs would further complicate the logistics of moving goods and managing costs across international borders [1].
Business leaders often rely on stable trade policies to maintain margins and ensure the flow of raw materials. Sonnenfeld said that the current trajectory of trade threats undermines that stability, creating a cycle of distraction that hinders corporate efficiency [1].
“"CEOs are really worried."”
The warning from the Yale School of Management highlights a growing tension between administration trade policy and corporate operational stability. If CEOs perceive trade threats as unpredictable distractions rather than strategic tools, it may lead to reduced capital investment and a slower response to global market changes as companies prioritize risk mitigation over growth.
