Tariff turmoil: How Tesla and other companies are dealing with the uncertainty of the trade war

Economic Times

23-04-2025

Uncertainty over tariffs and an unpredictable trade war is weighing heavily on companies as they report their latest financial results and try to give investors financial forecasts. Some tariffs remain in place against key US trading partners, but others have been postponed to give nations time to negotiate. The tariff and trade picture has been shifting for months, sometimes changing drastically on a daily basis. Those shifts make it difficult for companies and investors to make a reliable assessment of any impact to costs and sales.
On Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he expects a "de-escalation" in the trade war between the US and China, but cautioned that talks between the two sides had yet to formally start. Here's how several big companies are dealing with the tariff confusion:
Tesla Tesla is in a better position than most car companies to deal with tariffs because it makes most of its US cars domestically. But it still sources materials from other nations and will face import taxes.
The bigger impact will be seen in the company's energy business. The company said the impact will be "outsized" because it sources LFP battery cells from China.
The broader trade war could also hurt the company as China, the world's largest electric vehicle market, retaliates against the US Tesla was forced earlier this month to stop taking orders from mainland customers for two models, its Model S and Model X. It makes the Model Y and Model 3 for the Chinese market at its factory in Shanghai. CEO Elon Musk, an adviser to President Donald Trump, on Tuesday reiterated that he believes "lower tariffs are generally a good idea for prosperity." But he added that ultimately the president decides on what tariffs to impose.
Akzo Nobel The Amsterdam-based maker of paints and coatings for industrial and commercial use said the big risk from tariffs could come in the form of lower demand for its products. The company said almost all sales of finished goods in the U.S. were locally produced, with the majority of raw materials locally sourced. "Over the years, we deliberately localized both our procurement and production in the US," said CEO Gregoire Poux-Guillaume, in a conference call with analysts. "We also largely run China for China and use the rest of Asia instead as an export base." The company's products range from paints and coatings for the automotive industry to the do-it-yourself homeowner. Broader tariffs could squeeze consumers and businesses and hurt sales. Boston Scientific The medical device maker said it expects most of the effecs of tariffs to hit the company during the second half of the year, but that it can absorb the impact. The company raised its earnings and revenue forecasts for the year, despite the tariffs. It estimates a $200 million impact from tariffs in 2025, but said it can offset that through higher sales and reductions in discretionary spending. The company said it has a long-standing supply chain around the globe and has made significant investments in the US Boeing Boeing said much of its supply chain is in the U.S. and many of its imports from Canada and Mexico are exempt from tariffs under an existing trade agreement. The company does have suppliers in Japan and Italy, but it expects to recover those tariff costs. The net annual cost of higher tariffs on the supply chain is less than $500 million. A bigger concern is the potential for retaliatory tariffs, which could impact its ability to deliver aircraft. China, a key target for US tariffs, has retaliated in part by no longer accepting deliveries of Boeing aircraft. AT&T AT&T, like its peers in the telecommunications sector, faces higher costs for cellphones and other equipment. The company said it believes it can manage anticipated higher costs, based on the current pause in some tariffs and its supply chain. "The magnitude of any increase will depend on a variety of factors, including how much of the tariffs the vendors pass on, the impact that the tariffs have on consumer and business demand," said CEO John Stankey, on a conference call with analysts.