Trump’s Unclear Policies Threaten Multinational Companies’ Investments

The British newspaper Financial Times explained that U.S. President Donald Trump’s “unpredictable” policies, along with his strict crackdown on immigration, have pushed a number of multinational companies to consider relocating their employees or operations out of the United States.

The paper also noted that the haphazard introduction of new rules regarding visas for highly skilled workers, in addition to moves against political opponents, has heightened the concerns of corporate boards that were already unsettled by Trump’s sporadic tariffs earlier this year.

According to the newspaper, business leaders pointed to the ambiguity of executive orders as an additional factor increasing risks in the U.S. market, with some European investors even withdrawing their investments.

A senior executive at a European multinational company said the current situation “raises the cost of capital,” noting that the strict application of minimum investment thresholds is pushing companies to scale back their U.S. investments in the long run.

By contrast, the Trump administration has bet that its policies—from deregulation to the erection of trade barriers—will spark a boom in investment and employment. Trump has cited record highs in the U.S. stock market as proof of support for his approach.

In the same context, White House spokesman Kush Desai stated that the U.S. administration can make the American economy more dynamic and business-friendly, while prioritizing American workers.

Economic advisers also stressed that the tough immigration measures have forced companies to draft alternative plans, increasing the appeal of relocating jobs to offices outside the United States.

Meanwhile, U.S. immigration attorney Lauren Mullen noted that the shift in immigration policies has disrupted companies’ plans to sponsor employees for U.S. citizenship. She added that the rising rate of visa denials and the new rhetoric toward immigrants could directly affect expatriate employees.

Trump further fueled market uncertainty by announcing—via social media—new, steep tariffs on a range of goods, without his administration providing clear details on how they would be implemented.