ECONOMY/MANUFACTURING/TARIFFS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Manufacturing activity fell slightly in March, the Institute for Supply Management said Monday [4-2-18]. New orders and production dropped a notch, but the industry still grew for the 19th straight month. Comments published along with the ISM report show that factory owners are concerned about the tariffs, which took effect March 23. The comments also show a contrast between Trump’s promise to revive manufacturing and the real impact of his trade policy. Trump imposed a 25% tariff on imported steel and a 10% tariff on imported aluminum. The tariff applies to most nations, although some have been given temporary exemptions…On top of the steel and aluminum tariffs, the Trump administration is expected to announce tariffs on at least $50 billion of Chinese exports to the United States. Administration officials say businesses will have two months to weigh in before Trump decides when to apply the tariffs.”
–Patrick Gillespie, “Manufacturers are worried about Trump tariffs,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, April 2, 2018 11:32am