MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. — Amid optimism about Michigan’s progress, concerns about economic uncertainty dominated conversations at the annual Mackinac Policy Conference this week, as business leaders and policymakers gathered to assess the state’s future.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer, delivering the keynote address Thursday at the Detroit Regional Chamber event, acknowledged that while Michigan has made strides, federal trade policies under former President Donald Trump are creating serious headwinds for the state’s economy.
“There are many positive things to talk about in Michigan,” Whitmer said. “But one of the palpable feelings is concern—concern about the uncertainty coming out of Washington, D.C.”
Whitmer highlighted that Michigan’s deep reliance on manufacturing, agriculture, and the automotive industry makes it particularly vulnerable to the economic fallout of tariffs and trade tensions. “The tariff talk takes a toll,” she said. “All three of those things make Michigan more susceptible to the hardship that comes with the uncertainty and paralysis that follows. And we’re already seeing it in Michigan.”
While she acknowledged the limitations of state-level power in influencing federal trade policy, Whitmer emphasized that Michigan can still take meaningful action to strengthen its economic foundation.
“I can’t control what’s happening in Washington, D.C., in regards to tariffs,” she said. “I can try to inform it and I take every opportunity to do that. But what I can do is make sure we shore up the fundamentals.”
Among those fundamentals, Whitmer pointed to fixing the state’s infrastructure, investing in education—particularly literacy—and attracting new industries such as semiconductor manufacturing. “Landing a chip plant would be diversifying,” she noted. “All these things are things that we can do in Michigan. They’re hard, but we can do hard things.”
The annual conference, held at the historic Grand Hotel, serves as a key forum for dialogue among Michigan’s political, civic, and business leaders. This year, discussions centered on how to sustain the state’s economic momentum while navigating national and global challenges.
Whitmer’s message was clear: despite challenges from Washington, Michigan must stay focused on long-term investments and innovation to remain competitive in an unpredictable economic landscape.
