SAVANNAH, Ga. () — The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is preparing for possible slowdowns in production if the Trump administration continues to impose more tariffs.

According to the chamber, the state set new records for international trade activity, sitting at number seven in the nation for exports. 

Georgia Chamber of Commerce CEO Chris Clark told that Georgia is the global leader in a number of industries, from agriculture to manufacturing.

“We have a long history here of international trade,” he explained. “Import, export, foreign direct investment.”

He said lately the state has been moving into uncertain trade territory due to President Trump’s tariffs.

“What businesses don’t like is uncertainty,” Clark said. “They don’t like changing the rules.  We’re making 50, 60-year investments and we need to know what the rules are.  Same thing with the Ports of Savannah.  They want everything to be settled. They want to know what the market’s going to do so that they can provide the best service to their customers.”

Clark said 89% of Georgia’s exports come from small businesses and they are the ones that will feel the burn from reciprocal tariffs the most.

“I have concern, you know, for Ag [Agriculture] industry and some other sectors that are out there,” he said. “As far as the imports go,  that’s going to impact a lot of the consumer goods at first.”

However, his concerns don’t stop there.

“Brunswick is now the number one roll on roll off port in the in the country,” said Clark. “That’s good for domestic autos that are moving out around the rest of the world to be sold.  And so reciprocal tariffs could impact that. Then obviously, you’re hearing a lot of noise right now about the immediate impact on the luxury car market. and many of those are coming in through the port of Brunswick.”

As negotiations take shape, Clark said he will stay in contact with Georgia’s international partners.

“I met with finance minister from Quebec and from Canada,” he told . “We’re talking to our partners in India and Mexico every day just to remind people about the strong partnerships that have existed for decades and decades and how important those markets are, particularly for Georgia farmers, for timber, for mining and other products.”

He added, “What we’re telling our businesses is just to be calm. Georgia companies are stockpiling goods and products right now. they’re thinking long term that a reassessing of their inventories, they’re reassessing their supply chains because this is painful.”

Georgia’s Chamber of Commerce is hoping the Trump administration will roll back on existing and reciprocal tariffs in hopes of opening up new markets for companies and their products.