Business News
Trump in danger of impeachment
An expert on American studies told leading Midlands business figures that the Trump administration would be a “disaster” and that there was a strong likelihood that the president would be impeached. Dr Steve Hewitt, senior lecturer in history and American and Canadian
studies at the University of Birmingham, was speaking at a breakfast organised by the Midland Chapter of the British American Business Council, part of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. Dr Hewitt, a Canadian who was speaking on a personal basis, said: “I
foresee chaos with an individual with little experience running the most powerful country in the world. “Millions in the US will be losing health insurance, there will be growing
social division and the crackdown on immigration will be troublesome. Obama deported 2.5 million illegal immigrants but Trump has pledged to deport 11 million. It is likely that Trump will be impeached and Mike Pence (Trump’s vice-president) might be more in keeping with the strong Christian faith in the Republican Party.” Asked about the future of the Democratic Party, Dr Hewitt said: “I think
they should just step back because I think this (the Trump administration) is going to be a disaster. “Trump has shifted his stance on a number of issues which means that
he can do things that are unexpected. This could be potentially dangerous. “In turning his back on free trade he is breaking with Republican
tradition. And I think Trump offers more than change. He is a 21st Century Andrew Jackson (US president from 1829 to 1837). “In those days Jackson was the Republicans’ ideal figure – a military hero
and a slave-trader, not fitting with today’s political correctness but there are some parallels.” Dr Hewitt said that Steve Bannon, Trump’s chief strategist and senior
counsellor, was on the extreme right and described him as a US Nigel Farage – “an outsider and a disrupter”.
Julian Beer (Birmingham City University), Lauren Hunt (British American Business Council), Dr Steve Hewitt, Maria Clune (Edgbaston Stadium) and Russell Jeans (Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce)
He added: “The Trump team think that China has stolen a whole lot of US
jobs that they are determined to get back. We can expect China and Mexico to be the main targets of the Trump administration. “Mexico feels very vulnerable with the prospect of the wall being built
but it has a position of strength in that it acts as a defence against more drugs finding their way into the States from South America.” He said Trump had “rattled” the Chinese and some of his issues had been
about national pride. “You have got to be careful because China is their top trading partner along with Canada. “Britain is reasonably well positioned. But you need to be flexible and
ensure you flatter the new president. Trump is someone who needs reaffirmation of how great he is.”
*More BABC news Page 39 Policy Matters
Business leaders have urged the Government to set out its timeline for the Brexit process following the recent Supreme Court ruling that an Act of Parliament is needed before Article 50 can be triggered.
Birmingham Chamber chief
executive Paul Faulkner said: “We would urge the Government to publish their timeline for bringing this forward as soon as possible.” Dr Adam Marshall, director
general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “What businesses will want to know is whether this ruling will affect either the terms of the government's approach, or the timeline that firms across the UK have been told to expect.”
Birmingham Chamber has urged the Government to deliver on the promise of a “truly regional approach” to its industrial strategy by committing to significant investment in the Midlands. The Government says its
industrial strategy will focus on building on the UK’s strengths and extending excellence into the future, closing the productivity and wealth gap between different regions. Chamber chief Paul Faulkner
said: “We welcome an Industrial Strategy that recognises the importance of place and the need
16 CHAMBERLINK March 2017
for tailored solutions responsive to local need and industry. “Our strengths in manufacturing,
research, innovation and growing technology hubs represent real opportunities for meaningfully rebalancing the economy.”
The Chamber says it remains “cautiously optimistic” about the region’s economic outlook – despite recent figures showing a rise in unemployment. Labour market statistics released
recently show unemployment in the West Midlands was up by 0.6 per cent from October to December, with employment falling by 1.2 per cent. But Chamber chief Paul Faulkner
said the figures for the West Midlands were a result of unusually high estimates in the period from July to September. He said: “At first glance the
regional labour market figures look somewhat challenging. “However, the ONS identifies
that these figures reflect their unusually high estimates in July to September 2016 for the West Midlands and that, in general, the employment rate has remained relatively stable in recent periods. “Our latest Quarterly Business
Report for Q4 2016 indicates that more than a third of regional firms are seeing an increase in their workforce and that more businesses are seeking to recruit.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
