American companies fearful of President-elect Donald Trump's use of tariffs as leverage in trade talks are bolstering the lobbying efforts to attempt to talk the administration out tariffs.
The people seeking to influence the Trump transition or incoming Cabinet members are finding there is no controlling Trump, or influencing him, and there is no forewarning when tariffs are dangled out on social media over night, sources told The Wall Street Journal on Sunday.
"Trump's team has told corporate consultants there is no waving the president-elect off his plans to make liberal use of tariffs once he gets into office, the people said," the Journal reported.
That has not stopped companies from stepping up lobbying efforts.
Among the companies reaching out for contact with Trump of his officials and bolstering the lobbying are Insteel Industries, fearing tariffs might raise the costs of American steel, LG Electronics USA, fearing supply chain impacts, and semiconductor manufacturer GlobalFoundries, according to the report.
Among the targeted Cabinet members is investor Scott Bessent, picked to lead the Treasury Department.
"Trump creates the strategies, and Mr. Bessent implements them in the most effective manner," a spokesman for Bessent told the Journal, noting Bessent and Trump are "in daily communication on economic and geopolitical matters affecting the U.S."
Secretary of State-nominee Marco Rubio is not necessarily given notice for Trump's late-night social media tariff leveraging, but Rubio backs the Trump agenda and will work to implement it, according to the report.
Rubio is on board with "Trump's vision of restoring America's place on the world stage and working to bring about greater trade fairness for American families and businesses," a spokesman for Rubio told the Journal.