Tariffs, Supply Chains Worry In-House Counsel After Trump Win

President-elect Donald Trump is rolling into office on promises of widespread tariffs—and many companies are already preparing.

For corporate counsel at multinationals with global supply chains that could be affected—particularly in China—that means creating or updating their contingency plans as they wait to learn what imported goods the tariffs will target, and at what rates. Some companies are already starting to act—stockpiling goods in the US before tariffs hit, and accelerating a move away from China. Multinationals in the automotive and manufacturing sectors have spoken publicly about how they are planning for potential tariffs.

“For international trade risk that multinationals ...