American CEOs lobby to "eliminate tariffs," but Trump does not heed their advice

As Trump's tariff threats escalate, corporate executives are increasingly engaging in behind-the-scenes lobbying activities. Reports indicate that many large companies, including LG Electronics, have secretly hired professionals with government connections to "whisper in the ear" of the new president in Congress and at Mar-a-Lago, urging him to abandon radical tariff policies. On December 15th, The Wall Street Journal published a report detailing how this phenomenon occurred. It is well known that tariffs are at the core of Trump's economic policy and one of his most critical promises during the campaign, where he stated he would impose a 20% tariff on all imported goods. However, last month, Trump further escalated his tariff policy. He stated on his social media platform that he would impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from Canada and Mexico, and even impose tariffs as high as 100% on countries including Brazil, India, and South Africa. With less than two months until the inauguration, Trump's radical statements seem to have made things a bit "out of control," prompting executives from major companies to take action and lobby for a softening of the tariff policy. After all, a comprehensive increase in tariffs affects not only consumer goods prices but also leads to soaring costs for companies importing goods, exacerbating trade conflicts across multiple industries globally. The report reveals that many large companies have secretly hired professionals with government connections to "whisper in the ear" of the president, urging him to abandon radical tariff policies. For instance, LG Electronics' U.S. division has hired the government relations firm Capitol Counsel, and U.S. semiconductor manufacturer GlobalFoundries has also engaged the lobbying group Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies, both intending to lobby on trade and supply chain issues. Considering Mexico's tariff policy, wine and beer manufacturer Constellation Brands has also hired a consulting firm, hoping to convey to Trump that cross-border business is also important for American workers. Unable to Dissuade, Radical Tariff Policy "Set in Stone"? However, contrary to expectations, Trump's decisive and unilateral style of action often leads to other voices being shut out, even from his closest professional team. Insiders reveal that Trump's words and actions are largely "my way or the highway," and before he makes statements about tariffs on his social media platform, even his closest allies are not informed in advance, including his personally appointed Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and Secretary of State Senator Rubio. An insider indicated that when Trump publicly threatened tariffs on Mexico and Canada, Rubio received almost no notification A spokesperson for Besant stated that the candidate for Treasury Secretary is currently only involved in execution and not in decision-making, and usually only has routine communications with Trump regarding U.S. economic and geopolitical matters. An advisor who previously worked in Trump's first administration indicated that Trump "doesn't listen to advice" and that major companies should accept the reality that tariff pledges will soon be implemented. Repeated failures to dissuade have left companies helpless, and they can only hope that the King's radical statements are merely a diplomatic strategy and will not come to full fruition. Trump's ally, Senator Tom Cotton, recently made remarks that may provide "a glimmer of hope" for businesses. Cotton stated at an event that Trump might be open to negotiations with Canada and Mexico, and that the implementation of tariff policies could be delayed. Risk Warning and Disclaimer The market carries risks, and investment should be approached with caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not take into account the specific investment goals, financial situation, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article align with their specific circumstances. Investment based on this is at one's own risk