Supply Chain Research

The start of the 2Q earnings reporting season has come with an increased focus on trade issues in company conference calls. In the 570 calls held since Jul. 1 there were 139 companies that discussed tariffs or Brexit. That’s equivalent to 24.3% of the total which is well above the 21.2% of the prior quarter. Electrolux is typical in referring to tariffs as being a business-as-usual matter. CEO Jonas Samuelson has stated the firm has “triggered price increases, resulting in uncertainty and somewhat weaker demand”. Electrolux’s total U.S. seaborne imports fell 28.9% year over year on lower...