Amazon Identifies A New Business Risk: Trump's Trade Policies

Big business tends to welcome Republican policies, and the recent stock market rally suggests traders believe U.S. companies will benefit from President Donald Trump's promised tax cuts and elimination of regulation. But not everyone in Corporate America is jumping for joy or anticipating higher income. said in a regulatory filing on Friday that its business now faces a new set of risks: "trade and protectionist measures." While the filing, its annual report with the Securities and Exchange Commission, doesn't specifically mention President Trump, the new risks are a clear reference to the possible changes that may come to global commerce under the new administration. The four-word phrase does not show up as a potential risk in at least the last five of Amazon's annual reports, and represents the only significant change compared to last year's filing in a section that outlines potentially "unfavorable changes" in government regulation. While it's a subtle alteration, the new addition makes it clear that Amazon is concerned about Trump's approach to trade, which has already led to the nation's departure from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership in favor of an "America First" policy. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is by no means the only business leader concerned about Trump's economic and trade policies.