Trump tells CEOs he plans to bring back millions of jobs (updated)

Y Entec Co

23/02/2017 16:34

(Updates with list of participants) 
    By David Shepardson and Ginger Gibson 
    WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump told 
about two dozen chief executives of major U.S. companies on 
Thursday he plans to bring many millions of jobs back to the 
United States. 
    Trump also touched on his plan to deport illegal immigrants 
to Mexico. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is in Mexico on what 
Trump called a "tough trip." 
    Participants included CEOs from General Electric Co  GE.N , 
Lockheed Martin Corp  LMT.N , Dow Chemical Co  DOW.N , 
International Paper Co  IP.N , Ford Motor Co  F.N , United 
Technologies and Dell Technologies Inc  DVMT.N , Johnson & 
Johnson  JNJ.N , Corning Inc  GLW.N , Whirlpool, Emerson, 
Campbell Soup Company, Merck & Co Inc  MRK.N , Caterpillar Inc 
 CAT.N , 3M Co  MMM.N , U.S. Steel  Corp  X.N , Archer Daniels 
Midland Corp  ADM.N  and General Dynamics Corp  GD.N . 
    Trump is expected to roll out a series of proposals that 
could have big ramifications for companies, including a plan to 
overhaul the tax code that he has promised within weeks and an 
infrastructure package that was part of his 2016 presidential 
campaign promises.  
    A former CEO himself in his first public office, Trump has 
convened a series of such meetings with business leaders from 
several industries, including pharmaceutical, automotive and 
aviation makers. 
    Trump met last week with a group of CEOs from large retail 
companies, all of whom oppose a House Republican-backed plan to 
create a border adjustment tax as part of a tax code overhaul. 
Several of the CEOs who met Trump on Thursday are part of a 
coalition that supports the border adjustment tax, which would 
impose a 20 percent tax on goods that are imported into the 
country while providing write-offs for goods that are exported. 
    On Thursday, the chief executives each attended one of four 
breakout sessions with Trump administration economic officials 
to discuss a variety of topics including conflict minerals 
regulations, lack of qualified workers, export regulations for 
defense products, vocational training and business taxes.  
    White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Wednesday, "The 
president will meet with a group of world-class business leaders 
to discuss specific action he can take to remove barriers to job 
creation." 
    Vice President Mike Pence, Transportation Secretary Elaine 
Chao, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and economic aides met 
with the CEOs. 
 
 (Reporting by David Shepardson and Ginger Gibson; Editing by 
Howard Goller) 
 ((David.Shepardson@thomsonreuters.com; 2028988324;)) 
 
Keywords: USA TRUMP/CEOS