Some respondents suggest that supplier diversification and good relationships with suppliers may mitigate the effects of a volatile environment and expect no change in risk, according to a report by Industry Week. Businesses wonder, however, how consumers will respond, perhaps accepting substitutes for products or components no longer available.

“Some raw materials are sourced outside the U.S. and may be subject to unknown tariff decisions. I don't feel there will be checks and balances to rein in hasty decisions,” writes one respondent.

Tariffs aside, a new administration signaled a slight improvement in the index for “Government Intervention Risk.”

“Risk will decrease due to expected deregulation under the new administration,” writes one respondent. Another writes, “We expect an increase in risk as the impact of promised tariff policy changes could be significant. Potential deportation and immigration policy changes could further impact the overall labor shortage.”

The article referenced in this story originally ran as “Businesses are Less Worried About Their Supply Chains in Q1, but Concerns Remain” on IndustryWeek.com, an Endeavor Business Media sibling site.