AUTO INDUSTRY/EU/TARIFFS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Trump administration, in a move that could forestall potentially devastating tariffs on foreign automobiles, is in discussions with European carmakers about increasing their investment and employment in the United States. The talks come ahead of a Wednesday deadline for President Trump to decide whether to make good on his threat to impose tariffs on foreign cars and car parts, which his administration has declared a national security threat. Mr. Trump is widely expected to delay the tariffs for several months, because there is little appetite in the administration to move ahead with them now, according to people familiar with the deliberations. While neither side will call it a deal, the carmakers have worked out an understanding with American officials in an effort to prevent Mr. Trump from imposing the tariffs. German carmakers have quietly promised big investments in their United States factories, American and European officials said Monday [11-11-19]. Foreign carmakers hope that pledges of larger investments in the United States could give Mr. Trump enough bragging rights to delay the tariffs.”
–Jack Ewing and Ana Swanson, “Trump May Punt on Auto Tariffs as European Carmakers Propose Plan,” The New York Times online, November 11, 2019