Alcoa’s former CEO has a message for Trump

One of the biggest debates in the business world right now is how major manufacturers will respond to fresh tariffs from the Trump administration. If you’re Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook, can you uproot decades of supply chain work in China and build iPhone manufacturing sites in the US to beat tariffs? Or does it make more sense to absorb the Trump tariffs on China while also passing some of the pain on to consumers? Apple isn’t alone in this dilemma—automakers such as General Motors (GM) and Ford (FORD) have large plants in Mexico and Canada, also targeted by the Trump administration’s tariffs. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi speaks at length with former Siemens (SIEGY) and Alcoa (AA) CEO Klaus Kleinfeld. Kleinfeld—author of the new book Leading to Thrive—is no stranger to interacting with policymakers and world leaders. He was still CEO of Alcoa in 2017 when he was among the executives summoned to the White House to meet with then-first-time President Trump. He also joined other CEOs in exiting Trump’s special councils. Kleinfeld weighs in on the industrial and economic impact of Trump’s tariff actions, warning they will prove far from just a US headwind. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid, brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor - before the stock market opens. Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/. Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid is hosted by Brian Sozzi, and produced by Langston Sessoms Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices