OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark said tariffs functioned as a “$200 billion tax on small businesses” in 2025 and warned they are slowing the economy. Clark made the remarks in a Fox Business interview on The Claman Countdown. “If we didn’t have the tax of tariffs, the economy could be on fire,” she said.
The Chamber’s estimate stems from its analysis of the new country‑level tariff rates announced in 2025 applied to known small‑business import volumes. Based on 236,000 small business importers and $868 billion in imports, the Chamber calculated an annualized burden of about $202 billion if import levels hold.
Clark’s appearance follows a series of Chamber statements pressing for tariff relief and clearer rules, including calls for a streamlined exemption process for small importers.
