100 days of Trump – businesses urged to seize new opportunities at Chamber debate

Businesses across the West Midlands have been urged to be more resilient in the face of uncertainties and seize new opportunities following the first 100 days of the second Trump Presidency.

A high-powered panel of regional business leaders gathered at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce HQ to turn the spotlight on Trump’s first 100 days following his return to power last November. It was sponsored by Samartin and Friends.

The controversial President came in for criticism from both panellists and audience members in the wake of the recent imposition of tariffs which had initially sent global markets into freefall and the Trump attacks on the courts, media and other institutions.

But despite widespread criticism of the second Trump regime, panellists and audience members united in their call for firms to take advantage of new trading opportunities in the rapidly changing global environment.

Professor Deb Leary, CEO and founder of city firm Forensic Pathways and former Chamber of Commerce President, said the Trump Presidency marked yet more change for the business sector following the turbulence of Covid and Brexit.

“We have been through Brexit, we have been through Covid, this is another round of change. It is also about opportunity – we have learnt over the years, we have got to be accustomed to change, we have got to be adaptable, we have got to be resilient.”

Andrea-Claire Edwards, director of Global Relations and Research at the University of Birmingham, said: “There is an opportunity for us to attract talented students who would otherwise be looking to go to the US and look to us to come and study here. That’s the same, I think, for other sectors with employees who might be looking to work outside the US.”

Fellow panellist Professor David Dunn, International Politics at the University of Birmingham, told the audience: “What you have is a different style of government. He is ignoring Congress, he is ignoring the courts and ordering Government agencies to do his bidding.

“He is claiming and using power in a way that has never been done by an American President before.”

Audience member Johnathan Dudley, accountancy firm Crowe’s national head of manufacturing, said: "I have been engaging with a lot of businesses and the mood music is that actually there’s little point in opposing or retaliatory tariffs because Trump might change his mind.”

Janie Frampton, President of the Greater Birmingham Global Chamber of Commerce, said: “I thought this event was eye-opening, it brought together lots of ideas and opportunities. I was very interested to hear about the supply chain, about how people are not placing orders and waiting to see if the tariffs change.

“Trump is shooting from the hip, rowing back, and then shooting from the hip again, which is creating instability.”

Chairing the discussion, Jayne Hume, head of the Greater Birmingham Chambers global division, said the chamber has reacted promptly to the news of the tariff changes and been feeding the views and concerns of our members to the British Chambers of Commerce to inform Government on behalf of the region.

Jayne said: “The chamber is focused on ensuring we continue to support members with guidance on tariffs as well as insights on new market opportunities and support for global growth.

“While the current situation is unpredictable we are echoing the message from our panellists that Businesses will find a way, businesses will find a solution.”

Pictured from left to right: Lis Lewis-Jones, Deb Leary, Professor David Dunn, Jon Mobin, Paul Samartin, Andrea Edwards, and Janie Frampton