YKK’s Global Zipper Empire Threatened by Trump’s Tariffs

In early February, executives from YKK, the world’s largest zipper manufacturer, gathered in Kurobe, Japan, for annual budget meetings. Normally, these gatherings leave time for a bit of schmoozing — karaoke, dinner with old friends, that sort of thing. This year was less freewheeling as it became clear the meetings were an informal referendum on whether global trade was about to come undone. Scarcely two weeks into his second term, President Donald Trump had already announced 25% tariffs on goods entering the US from Colombia, only to rescind the measure. Next came tariffs amounting to 20% on goods from China, ...