McGuireWoods Consulting’s Site Selection and Economic Development professionals Ford Graham and Margaret Rockwell recently authored an article for Area Development examining how ongoing tariff and trade policy uncertainty is influencing corporate investment and site selection decisions in the United States.
In “Companies Can Plan for Tariffs. They Can’t Plan for Uncertainty,” Graham and Rockwell explore the challenges companies face when making multiyear capital investment decisions amid an evolving trade policy environment. While companies can model the potential cost of tariffs, shifting rates and policies can make it more difficult to forecast costs and confidently execute long-term investment plans.
Despite this uncertainty, international interest in U.S. investment remains strong. Graham and Rockwell note that companies may be delaying or reassessing investment decisions rather than abandoning plans altogether, creating an opportunity for communities to strengthen their competitive position while companies evaluate their options.
The article is particularly relevant to attorneys advising manufacturers, energy companies, data center developers, and foreign-owned businesses evaluating U.S. expansion, reshoring, or supply chain relocation. Graham and Rockwell work at the intersection of trade policy, economic incentives, and regulatory approvals, helping companies and their counsel structure investments that account for both current incentive availability and forward-looking policy risk.
Read the full article here: https://www.areadevelopment.com/BusinessGlobalization/q3-2026/companies-can-plan-for-tariffs-they-cant-plan-for-uncertainty.shtml
