As the world comes to terms with the Trump Presidency, Uniqlo founder Tadashi Yanai this week poured cold water on some of President Trump’s plans. Trump has promised to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States including a 35% tariff on companies that leave the United States.
In an interview where the possibility of being compelled to manufacture in the U.S was pitched, he said “If I was directly told to do so, I will withdraw from the United States. We would not be able to make really good products [in the U.S.] at costs that are beneficial to customers. It would become meaningless to do business in the U.S.”
Uniqlo has 51 locations in the United States, and is considering opening at least 20 stores across the country this year, depending on the Trump administration’s signals.