News

In a wide-ranging interview on The Deciders podcast with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Brody Mullins and veteran DC strategist Lisa Camooso Miller, U.S. Chamber President and CEO Suzanne Clark laid out a one-word mandate for American business in 2026: fearless.

• Drawing a direct line between today's economic uncertainty and the historic inflection point of 1976, Clark says the country faces another "time for choosing," and free enterprise is the answer.

Why it matters: Public policy risk for businesses has surged. With threats coming from Washington, Brussels, and state capitals simultaneously, businesses can’t afford to ignore what's happening in government.

Big picture: The U.S. Chamber's global footprint is an engine for growth. We advocate for better market access to help American companies reach new markets and support U.S. workers.

• We also work to encourage investments in the U.S. Recently, Indonesia’s president visited the U.S. Chamber’s headquarters, where nearly $40 billion in export deals were signed. “That took years of relationship building and understanding the market,” Clark said.
• The Chamber's work is strengthened by volunteer leaders like Chairman Ross Perot Jr., whose global business perspective and political instincts enhance the organization’s mission to advance free enterprise and drive growth. 

What she said: With thin congressional margins reshuffling alliances on every issue, Clark said bipartisan relationships aren't optional—they're essential. "Every time there's a new issue, it's a new coalition. Having friends on both sides of the aisle who believe in business and job growth is really important."

Be smart: Clark flagged an under-covered threat: frivolous lawsuits that cost the average American household $4,200 a year, clog courts, and drive up insurance costs. Florida's recent tort reforms brought insurance prices down almost immediately—a model the U.S. Chamber wants replicated nationally.

Bottom line: Clark’s message was clear: the same free enterprise playbook that pulled America out of the 1970s can do so again.