Exclusive: Chamber of Commerce names Ross Perot Jr. as new chairman

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, one of America's most powerful lobbying groups, is pushing for policies it believes will unleash 3% economic growth.The Chamber's new chairman, Ross Perot Jr., is blunt about the challenges of getting there in the short term. Why it matters: The group has cheered President Trump's agenda as pro-growth, applauding efforts to relax regulations and extend current tax policy. But tariffs are the dividing issue — one the Chamber says is weighing on small businesses and the broader economy."This year is going to be tough," Perot told Axios in an exclusive interview at the U.S. Chamber offices, across Lafayette Park from the White House."I think because we're waiting for the tax code, and so you've got a little bit of uncertainty there," Perot said. "Then I think people are waiting on where we are going to go on tariffs. Once that settles down, we can all go to work."The Chamber rolled out a new agenda last year — urging lawmakers to prioritize policies that would return the U.S. to 3%-and-above growth rates, which were the norm in the second half of the 20th century.Driving the news: Perot — a north Texas billionaire and real estate developer whose late father, Ross Perot, ran for president as an independent in 1992 — will be charged with pushing that message. Perot Jr. takes over as the new chairman of the U.S. Chamber on Thursday, working with the group's president and CEO, Suzanne Clark.Expect to see Perot on the frontlines, advocating for the Chamber's policies in a more public-facing capacity — a different approach to the role than predecessors.The intrigue: The Chamber of Commerce has long been aligned with the Republican Party agenda. But that relationship has been tested by shifting ideologies in MAGA World."I would say that the relationship between the Republican Party and the Chamber right now is very good," Perot says. "I think we had issues in the past. But today, I see very strong relationships."There's more the Chamber likes than dislikes about the Trump agenda, he says, praising White House energy policies throughout the conversation with Axios. "If you're for business and if you're for pro-growth and deregulation — and that's what the Republican Party stands for — the Chamber is full force behind helping get your job done, including re-election," Perot said.Yes, but: Tariffs represent a bright line between the Chamber and the White House. Perot said that high tariffs put hundreds of thousands of small businesses at risk — echoing the Chamber's consistent message."The bigger companies can work through it — it's the little companies, those with 10 employees, that we represent that we're concerned about," Perot said. "We have members now that the tariff alone will cause them to go bankrupt. The margins are so tight on their product that they can't pass the price on, and they get caught."The Chamber of Commerce has called on the administration to exempt small companies — those with up to 20 employees — from tariffs. Perot said the White House is "very receptive" to concerns about trade policy.Perot said that the reason the White House paused "Liberation Day" tariffs for 90 days was because of engagement with leaders outside of the White House."You had some of those prominent senators in the nation work with him, saying: 'Look, Mr. President, the country's not ready for it,'" Perot said. "When you engage with President Trump, if you have a good idea, he'll change his mind."What to watch: Perot said that Trump's vision of domestic manufacturing won't happen overnight."Promoting investment in this country — we love it. But if that's what we are going to do, we're going to need a transition," Perot said."It will take years to re-industrialize the country. We can do it. But it's going to take a long time."

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