logo
Trump's tariff chaos threatens his push for rust belt revival

Trump's tariff chaos threatens his push for rust belt revival

Time of India8 hours ago

US President
Donald Trump
's signature trade policy is threatening to backfire by upending other top priorities: the revival of
US manufacturing
and the
American Rust Belt
.
In Illinois,
Trump
's tariffs prompted a compressor maker to delay a key equipment purchase after an ambitious factory revamp.
Rockwell Automation
Inc., a Wisconsin-based producer of factory tools, says some manufacturers are putting projects on hold because of uncertainty over costs and future demand. Snap-on Inc. is seeing similar hesitancy among car mechanics.
The warnings underscore the rising worry that turbulence from Trump's trade wars will smother the progress US manufacturers have already made revving up American factories. Manufacturing payrolls fell by 8,000 last month, the most this year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. US and Chinese negotiators will resume trade talks Monday in London, as the world's two largest economies look to resolve disputes over tariffs and technology.
Play Video
Pause
Skip Backward
Skip Forward
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
0:00
Loaded
:
0%
0:00
Stream Type
LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
1x
Playback Rate
Chapters
Chapters
Descriptions
descriptions off
, selected
Captions
captions settings
, opens captions settings dialog
captions off
, selected
Audio Track
default
, selected
Picture-in-Picture
Fullscreen
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text
Color
White
Black
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Opaque
Semi-Transparent
Text Background
Color
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Opaque
Semi-Transparent
Transparent
Caption Area Background
Color
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Transparent
Semi-Transparent
Opaque
Font Size
50%
75%
100%
125%
150%
175%
200%
300%
400%
Text Edge Style
None
Raised
Depressed
Uniform
Drop shadow
Font Family
Proportional Sans-Serif
Monospace Sans-Serif
Proportional Serif
Monospace Serif
Casual
Script
Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values
Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Ready-to-Move Flats in Chattarpur South Delhi
A D Infra
Get Info
Undo
In the US, perhaps nowhere is the anxiety higher than in the Midwest, which is still home to the nation's highest concentration of manufacturing employment even after bleeding jobs early this century from the rise of offshoring.
'Overall, it is going to be a drag on the
US economy
,' said Gus Faucher, chief economist for PNC Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh, calling the tariffs a tax that will raise prices. 'In particular, it's going to be a drag on the Midwestern economy.'
Live Events
Bloomberg
On-again, off-again levies on imported components and machinery — as well as retaliatory duties imposed by other countries — have injected volatility into supply chains, raised costs, hurt exports and chilled investment.
US factory activity contracted for a third straight month in May, and every comment in the Institute for Supply Management's sample of survey responses from manufacturing executives focused on tariffs — including a respondent in the electric equipment, appliance and components business who said the duties have created supply-chain disruptions rivaling those of the pandemic.
The Midwestern states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin lost almost 2 million manufacturing jobs between 1998 and 2010 as trade deals and China's entrance into the
World Trade Organization
spurred companies to seek lower-cost labor and production outside the US.
In recent years, though, a cautious optimism had returned. As supply chain shocks from the pandemic pushed companies to bring operations back home, and as Washington offered sweeping incentives for clean energy, EVs and semiconductor production, the Midwest began to stir.
Since the start of 2021, the region has added over 100,000 factory jobs, according to federal data. Rust Belt states had outsized investment in factories in the past decade, according to a report by Citi Institute, even as southern states that offer right-to-work laws, lower labor costs, and aggressive incentive packages to lure global manufacturers have also seen a boom.
The
White House
has pointed to the announcements of big planned investments in the US by companies and foreign governments as proof the president's trade policies are working. Case in point: When Trump traveled to the Pittsburgh area late last month to champion a deal between United States Steel Corp. and Nippon Steel Corp., he touted his plans to increase import duties on steel and aluminum to 50% from 25%.
Still, growth in overall US private construction spending on manufacturing has flatlined from the boom seen under the Biden administration.
Bloomberg
How Trump's approach plays out in the long term remains to be seen. For now, however, the constant shifting of his tariff strategy has 'got people spooked,' said Andrew Anagnost, chief executive officer of Autodesk Inc., which sells software used by manufacturers to design factories and improve manufacturing processes.
'The current operating mode is just the death to long-term investment,' Anagnost said. Construction work that was already underway or in the backlog is continuing but the uncertainty 'is stalling future projects.'
Milwaukee-based Rockwell Automation has already seen some investments get delayed because of uncertainty about how tariffs will affect business. The uneasiness is particularly acute in the automotive industry, which is trying to rewire a global supply chain designed for the old economic order, and in other capital-intensive projects for the long term, CEO Blake Moret said.
Snap-on, which provides tools used by automotive mechanics, can manage the impact of tariffs with minimal disruption because it mostly serves US customers with domestically made products, said CEO Nicholas Pinchuk. But while auto shops are still busy and profitable, they're 'confidence poor,' he said, adding that customers of the Kenosha, Wisconsin-based company are wary of economic disruption even if they support Trump politically.
'They're still big Trump fans. This is Trump territory,' he said. 'They believe in where we're going, but they're worried that something's going to happen.'
Even manufacturers that are positioned to gain from tariffs are anxious.
Faribault Mill, one of the last vertically integrated US textile mills in an industry devastated by offshoring, has been getting calls from from retailers looking for a domestic producer, said CEO Ross Widmoyer. But despite a projected fifth straight record sales year at the Minnesota-based maker of blankets, throws and apparel, Widmoyer said he's concerned about weakening economic growth.
'If there's a slowdown in consumer spending, it doesn't matter if you're making products domestically or overseas, and that's not good for anybody,' said Widmoyer, who is also chairman of the Minnesota Manufacturers' Council.
In Decatur, Illinois, TCCI Manufacturing was completing a $45 million factory revamp just as Trump slapped steep new tariffs on countries around the world. With US duties on China zigzagging between 30% and 145% in just weeks, TCCI decided to shelve the purchase of crucial Chinese-made testing equipment it needs by early next year. The factory makes compressors used in EVs.
The company has evaluated alternative sources for the equipment, but 'the problem with that is we don't know what the tariffs are doing,' TCCI President Richard Demirjian said as the company opened the factory earlier this year.
TCCI still has high hopes for the plant despite the uncertainty around tariffs and moves by congressional Republicans to roll back federal sweeteners for electric-vehicle purchases. The facility is now called the Clean Energy Innovation Hub, evoking the manufacturer's bet on the future. As a symbol of the region's past, Demirjian drove his father's maroon 1927 Model T to the plant's grand re-opening in April.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and touted the factory as the first to benefit from the state's Reimagining Energy and Vehicles program, which provided part of more than $21 million that TCCI received in state incentives for the project.
But Pritzker, a Democrat widely seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2028, warned that erratic policy-making is undercutting efforts to bolster US manufacturing.
'Tariffs are on, tariffs are off, tariffs are up, tariffs are down,' Pritzker said. 'Imagine trying to run a business and figure out from day to day how you're going to do pricing, who you're going to do business with, based upon where the tariffs are being imposed.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Himachal Pradesh to open areas near India-China border for tourists
Himachal Pradesh to open areas near India-China border for tourists

Time of India

time18 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Himachal Pradesh to open areas near India-China border for tourists

Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Himachal Pradesh will open areas near India-China border , including strategically important Shipki La pass , for tourists.A beginning will be made on Tuesday with Shipki La, which is a high-altitude mountain pass that has been an old trade route between India and Tibet. It has an Army post and the border is manned by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). So far, it was open for local residents and for limited trade between India and Tibet. Now, working with defence personnel and ITBP, Himachal Pradesh government has decided to ease restrictions and open up Shipki La Pass for tourists and adventure Indian resident will be able to visit this pass after furnishing an Aadhaar card. The Army will restrict the number of tourists per day. The initial plan is to allow 30 tourists per hour and 210 tourists a day. The tourists will be allowed to go till the border check post and come back. No photography of the strategic posts will be to ET, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, "We have been working with defence ministry for the last one and a half years to open up border areas for tourism in a restricted manner. We will first open Shipki La pass. Earlier, a permit was required for this area. This will be a big step for people of Kinnaur as we expect more tourist footfalls because of this."Tourists will be able to see the Chinese checkout and even roads within Chinese territory as at this spot the Indian checkout is at a higher level. Sukhu said, "This is just the first step. We will open more areas along India-China border." Himachal government is working towards opening Kaurik and Rangrik areas in Spiti La is in picturesque Kinnaur district at 4,000 m above sea level and is mostly snow covered and inaccessible during winter months. The state has now decided to use the summer months to open up the area for tourism.

India looking for other magnet sources after China's curbs on rare earth metals
India looking for other magnet sources after China's curbs on rare earth metals

Time of India

time18 minutes ago

  • Time of India

India looking for other magnet sources after China's curbs on rare earth metals

India is in talks with China on ensuring the supply of permanent magnets derived from rare earth minerals but is also working on 'alternate sources' for the critical components, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said. He said the government is in constant touch with Indian industry to speed up the development of local sources. China, which controls 90% of the supply of rare earth magnets, has imposed curbs on supplies. These magnets are essential inputs in the manufacturing of cars, electric vehicles and renewable energy equipment, among others. 'There is a concern... our embassy is in dialogue with them (China)... commerce and industry ministry is also working,' Goyal said, adding that the government had already begun work on developing alternate sources. 'Hope Good Sense Prevails' Goyal was speaking to reporters after his interaction with local industry in Bern. "In a way, it's a wake-up call for all those who have become over-reliant on certain geographies. It's a wake-up call for the whole world that you need trusted partners in your supply chain,' the minister said. Auto industry and other industry bodies have represented the matter to the government seeking an early resolution of the problem. China had in April mandated special export licences for seven rare earth elements and related magnets. It is seeking an undertaking that permanent magnets it supplies will not be re-exported to the US, nor will they find applications in the defence industry. ET reported on June 4 that nine auto component manufacturers have received endorsement from the Chinese embassy in India for importing critical rare earth magnets, but supply has not resumed as the neighbouring country's commerce ministry has not given its nod. "Obviously, there are issues around the stopping of permanent magnets from China to India, which will affect our auto sector, particularly, and several white goods and other sectors. Some companies have put in their applications, and we hope that good sense prevails and they get their approvals for permanent magnets," the minister said. The Centre is also looking to Indian Rare Earths Ltd to speed up the development of domestic resources, Goyal said. Asked if the government will consider a production-linked incentive scheme for these magnets, Goyal said he had discussed the matter with the auto industry and was confident of resolving the matter. "They are in dialogue with our innovators, startups and they say they will take care of any funding requirement or pricing correction that may need to encourage faster rollout and growth of this sector," Goyal said. On alternative sources, the minister said these could also be some technologies that India is developing. "The government, the industry and startups and innovators are all working as a team and we are confident that there may be a problem in the short run but we will emerge winners in the mid to long runs," he said. (The reporter is in Bern at the invitation of the ministry of commerce & industry)

Can Donald Trump call for Gov Newsom's arrest over LA riots? Here's what the law says
Can Donald Trump call for Gov Newsom's arrest over LA riots? Here's what the law says

Hindustan Times

time22 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Can Donald Trump call for Gov Newsom's arrest over LA riots? Here's what the law says

President Donald Trump on Monday suggested his border czar Tom Homan should arrest Gov Gavin Newsom amid riots in Los Angeles. 'I would do it … I think it would be a great thing,' Trump responded when asked if Homan should arrest the governor, who has challenged the administration's mobilization of National Guard in LA. Newsom, too, was quick to slam Trump. "The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America," he said on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. Read More: Los Angeles protests: 'Incendiary devices' hurled at police horses, says LAPD No, Trump cannot unilaterally arrest Gov Newsom over riots in Los Angeles. The US Constitution and legal system have clear checks and balances that prevent a former president—or even a sitting president—from directly arresting state officials without due process. Separation of Powers (Article II & III of the Constitution) The president does not have the judicial authority to issue warrants. Only law enforcement, backed by court orders, can detain someone. Any attempt to arrest Newsom without due process would violate the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, which guarantee fair legal procedures. State Sovereignty – Tenth Amendment Under the US system of federalism, states like California retain control over their own officials and law enforcement. The president cannot interfere in state governance unless federal law is violated and due process is followed. Read More: After tear gas and street fires, an Los Angeles community cleans up as National Guard troops arrive Military Limitations – The Posse Comitatus Act (18 US Code § 1385) This law forbids the use of the US military to carry out domestic law enforcement activities without explicit congressional authorization. Even in times of civil unrest, the president cannot use the military to detain or arrest state leaders like Newsom. No Legal Authority Post-Presidency As a former president, Trump has no legal powers—executive, military, or judicial. He cannot issue federal commands or make arrests.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store