The Blubber

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has a clear message for corporate America’s top executives: focus on running your companies and stop fixating on trade tensions.

"Over the next 90 days, we’ll have much more clarity on tariffs and the direction we're headed," Bessent said in an interview with Yahoo Finance on Tuesday (video above).

His comments came in response to growing concern among CEOs about the Trump administration’s trade strategy. Some executives have shared privately that the current tariff environment has created major uncertainty and disrupted business planning.

Bessent acknowledged the concerns but pointed out that uncertainty isn’t new. "They’ll have clarity not just on tariffs, but also on taxes and deregulation," he said. "I remember back in 2017 when people were saying the same thing — they couldn’t plan because the tax package wasn’t finalized until right before Christmas. We’re going to get that clarity again.”

Read more: What Trump’s tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet

Amid escalating trade tensions, business leaders have become increasingly vocal about their economic fears.

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon recently warned that a recession appears likely, while Goldman Sachs chief David Solomon told analysts that the risk of a downturn has grown.

Bessent sat down with Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi inside the Treasury building on April 15, 2025. His former mentor in the hedge fund world, Stanley Druckenmiller, has also weighed in, posting on X that he opposes tariffs higher than 10%.

Concerns extend beyond Wall Street. In an interview on Yahoo Finance’s Catalysts, Constellation Brands CEO Bill Newlands noted growing unease among consumers.

“People are feeling the pinch — from rising prices and inflation to immigration concerns, especially those with friends or family impacted by it,” Newlands said. “That’s translating into lower consumer spending. People are eating out less and cutting back on everyday purchases.”