Manufacturing and industrial giants worldwide are cutting 2025 profit projections amid mounting uncertainty from President Trump’s trade policy. Automakers like GM signaled a potential $5 billion hit, while European plane makers face Chinese retaliation. Similarly, budget airlines reconsider expansions over higher costs and reduced travel demand. This gloom stems from relentless tariff shifts: firms attempt to pre-order or reroute supplies, creating gluts or shortages. Some corporations, paralyzed by unpredictability, hoard cash rather than invest in new projects. Market analysts say “uncertainty is the new normal,” as the White House partially postpones certain tariffs but threatens new ones. Meanwhile, factory activity indexes in Asia and Europe slid into contraction, fueling recessionary whispers if no resolution appears soon.

May 03, 2025

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Industry

Startup Slate Debuts $20K Minimalist EV Pickup

Michigan-based Slate Auto has introduced a starkly minimalist electric pickup with a $20,000 base price—far below most EV competitors. The standard model omits extras like power windows or fancy infotainment, but buyers can add upgrades from a catalog of 100+ modular accessories. Billed as the “Blank Slate,” it delivers about 150 miles of range, extendable to 240 miles at higher cost. While rumors swirl of partial investment by Jeff Bezos, no official word confirms it. Analysts caution that achieving mass production of a sub-$20K EV is notoriously challenging, given battery and safety compliance costs. Still, if Slate’s approach works, it could disrupt the notion that electric vehicles must be premium-priced.

Apr 27, 2025

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Industry

Retailers Stockpile to Avoid Empty Shelves

Major retailers, including giants like Target and Walmart, have been flooding their warehouses with inventory in case import disruptions from new tariffs cripple supply lines. This strategy aims to prevent the dreaded sight of empty shelves—an outcome that can erode consumer confidence and pinch company margins. But it’s a tightrope: If consumer demand softens more than expected, firms might be stuck discounting surplus products, risking profitability. Meanwhile, manufacturers and shipping firms watch for a prolonged trade standoff that could further upend delivery schedules and logistics budgets. In a twist, too much stock or none at all can each prove equally damaging.

Apr 30, 2025

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Industry

Deep-Sea Mining Approved Despite Environmental Warnings

President Trump signed an executive order expanding deep-sea mining, allowing companies to extract mineral-rich nodules from ocean floors. Proponents call this a strategic move to secure rare-earth metals crucial for technology manufacturing. Critics argue it threatens fragile marine ecosystems we barely understand. The order directs government agencies to expedite permits, effectively lowering environmental review barriers. While supporters see it as a way to reduce dependence on Chinese mineral imports, environmental groups warn that disturbing deep seabeds can harm biodiversity and release unknown levels of carbon stored in sediment. This policy intensifies a global debate on whether short-term resource gains justify potential long-term ecological damage.

May 02, 2025

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Global Industry Slashes Forecasts as Tariffs Rattle Markets

Startup Slate Debuts $20K Minimalist EV Pickup

Retailers Stockpile to Avoid Empty Shelves

Deep-Sea Mining Approved Despite Environmental Warnings