Doncaster Chamber Urges Local Exporters to Share Insights Amid New US Tariffs Set to Undermine Export Confidence
Following a disappointing close to 2025, marked by a pronounced decline in business confidence as reflected in the Quarterly Economic Survey, Doncaster Chamber of Commerce is urging firms across the region to contribute their insights at this critical juncture.
Rapid shifts in US trade policy have created a climate of profound uncertainty for local exporters. With tariff frameworks now subject to potential revision within a six-month horizon, businesses lack the stability required for effective forward planning. Such volatility risks suppressing investment intentions and discourages firms from engaging with US markets, prompting some to pivot toward alternative trade markets, including Europe and the Indo-Pacific. In this increasingly unstable environment, businesses are seeking clarity, consistency, and a predictable trade policy pathway.
The Quarterly Economic Survey remains the UK’s most authoritative measure of business sentiment, forming part of a national dataset coordinated by the British Chambers of Commerce. It provides an unparalleled longitudinal evidence base that captures the dynamics of commercial activity across all sectors and regions. By monitoring indicators such as sales performance, recruitment trends, capital investment, and export activity, the QES offers a robust analytical picture of economic health and business confidence. Policymakers, local authorities, and business leaders factor in this intelligence to inform decisions on funding allocations, infrastructure priorities, and economic growth strategies. Importantly, the survey amplifies the collective voice of industry, ensuring that real world challenges and opportunities shape both regional and national policy.
In 2025, US tariff escalation corresponded with a marked decline in overseas sales and forward bookings among local firms. With these pressures intensifying and many questions still unanswered, uncertainty remains a major barrier to growth. Confidence levels recorded in the most recent QES were the lowest since 2022, underscoring the effect that global trade conditions can have on business planning, investment cycles, and long-term strategic decision making.
Unstable international trade policy has a direct influence on operational continuity, risk management, and growth trajectories. Doncaster Chamber continues to advocate for national policy that is grounded in empirical business evidence rather than assumption. A strong and representative set of QES responses ensures that South Yorkshire’s economic realities are reflected accurately within the British Chambers of Commerce network, strengthening the region’s influence in national decision-making forums.
Dan Fell, Chief Executive of Doncaster Chamber, said: “Periods of global uncertainty have a very real impact on the confidence and behaviour of local exporters. We saw this clearly in our last QES, where exporter sentiment shifted almost overnight. That is why it is essential that policymakers have access to robust, up to date intelligence from the business community. By completing the QES, firms can ensure their experiences shape the decisions that affect them, both locally and nationally.”
This quarter’s survey places a particular focus on Social Value and will remain open until 9 March. Businesses are strongly encouraged to participate, and Doncaster Chamber particularly welcomes insights from its community of exporters.
Posted on 27 February 2026
