Tariffs Threaten Jobs in Japan, Disrupt U.S. Investments

Recent tariffs imposed by President Trump, including a 25% tariff on car imports, are causing significant concern among residents of Kanda, Japan, where a Nissan factory employs over 4,000 workers. As half of the factory's output is sold in the U.S., the tariffs threaten local jobs and the town's economy. In the U.S., small and medium-sized companies are also feeling the pinch, as evidenced by a 25% drop in the Russell 2000 index since its peak, highlighting the broader impact of these tariffs on the stock market. Critics, including investor Balaji S. Srinivasan, argue that such tariffs do not incentivize U.S. manufacturing but instead lead to layoffs and increased costs for businesses reliant on global supply chains. Supporters of the tariffs, like Trump ally and businessman Howard Lutnick, defend the measures as necessary for economic recovery, despite rising concerns about their implications. Overall, the economic landscape is shifting as businesses grapple with the fallout from these trade policies.