Why Tariffs and Protectionism Are Here to Stay

Uncertainty dominates today's business environment and can leave leaders hesitant to make decisions. But beneath this ambiguity are five certainties that offer a basis for action: China's rise, the fracturing global economy, protectionism and tariffs, technological transformation, and the end of Pax Americana.

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, speaks with Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, global affairs consultant and former President of the Committee for Economic Development—now the CEO Center—about her article The New World Order: Five Certainties Amid Uncertainty, featured in the Foreign Policy Association's book Navigating an Age of Uncertainty.

Together, they examine how China is challenging Western economic and geopolitical leadership, why sanctions and competing payment systems are accelerating global fragmentation, and why tariffs are likely to remain a prominent policy tool beyond the next election. They also discuss the shift toward regional military powers as Pax Americana ends, the risks of declining transparency and international cooperation, and why business and government leaders must work together to shape global rules and standards for emerging technologies.

More from The Conference Board:

· How the National Debt Affects All Generations of Americans

· AI Policy and Regulation in the US: What Companies Need to Know

· Charting Pathways for US-China Economic Cooperation Amid Strategic Competition

· Tariff Tracker