Tariffs One Year Later: Waiting, Not Acting

In this episode of ExecutiveEDGE, we break down new data on how business leaders are responding to ongoing tariff pressure—and why many are choosing to wait rather than act.
April 17, 2026
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Tariffs Are Back—So Why Aren’t Leaders Changing Strategy?
One year after sweeping tariffs reshaped the global trade landscape, most businesses are still feeling the pressure—but few are making lasting changes.
In this episode of ExecutiveEDGE, we break down new survey data revealing how leaders are responding to persistent tariff costs, margin compression, and ongoing uncertainty—and why many are choosing to wait rather than act.
 
🔍 What You’ll Learn
- How tariffs have impacted profitability, pricing, and customer retention
- Why most companies are absorbing costs instead of adapting strategy
- The risks of relying on short-term responses in a long-term disruption
- Where leaders are finding limited opportunities amid rising pressure
- How smarter cost management can offset tariff-related margin erosion 

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About the Author

Geert De Lombaerde

Geert De Lombaerde

Contributor

A native of Belgium, Geert De Lombaerde joined EndeavorB2B in September 2021 to cover public companies, markets, and economic trends primarily for IndustryWeek, FleetOwner, Oil & Gas Journal, T&D World, and Healthcare Innovation. His work focuses on strategy, leadership, capital spending, and mergers and acquisitions, and he also works with Endeavor Business Intelligence on surveys and data projects.

Geert has been in business journalism since the mid-1990s. With a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, he began his reporting career at the Business Courier in Cincinnati, initially covering retail and the courts before shifting to banking, insurance, and investing. He later was managing editor and editor of the Nashville Business Journal before being named editor of the Nashville Post in 2008. He led a team that helped grow the Post's online traffic by an average of more than 15% annually before joining Endeavor.

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