ASK ANY BUSINESS OWNER about their Number 1 wish for their business and they will probably say prosperity. Success.
That’s understandable.
But coming in a very close second will be stability. Predictability.
If you have a pretty good idea how the market is going to act, how regulators are going to act, what governments are going to do, then you can plan your life and the strategy you want to employ to help your business survive and thrive.
Of course, they are hoping for good times, but if there are going to be bad times, they would at least like to know everyone will be pulling in the same direction — their business colleagues, their customers and all levels of government.
That’s why Donald Trump’s presidency must be so maddening for the business community.
Not to mention, that’s why the financial markets have reacted with such volatility since Trump put massive import tariffs in place this week.
Let’s recap. Trump said the tariffs would come in upon his inauguration in January.
After his inauguration, he said it would be February 1.
Then he decided it could wait until March 1.
Then, when they came into effect, he exempted certain industries.
He told Canada the tariffs would be in place until we got a handle on our borders.
Then, when Canada made changes, Trump was unmoved.
What’s the strategy here? And what does this guy even want? For Canada to lay down and give up?
Knowing we aren’t going anywhere without a fight, is he going to keep subjecting his country’s economy — and by extension everyone else’s — to these wild and unpredictable swings?
Donald Trump is governing his country — the most powerful nation on Earth — on the basis of his whims. He’s making it up as he goes along.
That’s not good for businesses. That’s not good for anybody.
Ultimately, it’s his own advisers and his own party who will have to step in.
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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.
