It Is Happening Every Day, Every Where
President Trump’s approach to tariffs has unsettled many corporate leaders who believed he would use the levies as a negotiating tool. As it turns out, he sees them as an end in themselves.
President Trump rallied support for Elon Musk’s car company, but there may not be enough conservatives willing to buy electric cars to make up for the Democrats who now shun Teslas.
The German luxury carmaker said its latest compact sedan solved problems that had kept people from buying electric vehicles.
The country’s trade minister stressed its role as a top investor and employer in the United States in a bid to avoid being hit by new levies on metals and cars.
Wall Street’s slide puts pressure on Musk and Trump, for different reasons.
His administration has acknowledged that exceptions undercut the power of tariffs, but it seems hard for the president to resist making deals.
The automaker’s shares soared after Election Day as Elon Musk took a high-profile role as a Trump adviser. Now those gains have evaporated.
The minister, Yoji Muto, is expected to negotiate with U.S. officials ahead of global tariffs that could damage Japanese businesses, including automotive giants.
The backlash against the electric vehicle company has turned violent at times, as its billionaire chief executive parlays his support for President Trump into consequential influence over the federal government.
The electric car company led by Elon Musk builds all the cars it sells in the United States in California and Texas, shielding it from tariffs that could devastate competitors.