Investment Bank Lazard Anticipates Measured Tariffs and Increase in Mergers and Acquisitions

Peter Orszag, CEO of investment bank Lazard, expressed optimism that the Trump administration will enhance deregulation and provide greater clarity regarding mergers and acquisitions. Orszag predicted that the momentum for deal-making, aided by private equity activities, will continue into the next year. This optimistic view emerged as investment banking activities began to recover from a two-year stagnation period.

Speaking at the Reuters NEXT conference held in New York on Wednesday, Orszag stated, "There were a lot of large deals informally discussed, and now it’s more about 'let's see if we can actually make this happen.'"

Trump, who will take office on January 20, announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from Mexico and Canada, as well as additional taxes on Chinese goods. Orszag remarked, "There may be a lot of rhetoric, but when you come into office and want to ensure inflation is not starting to rise, things will be done in a more measured way."