This past week President Donald Trump warned that he was willing to close the border with Mexico in retaliation for what he perceives as a lack of support of the country in helping stop illegal immigration and flow of drugs.
The response from the private sector on both sides of the border was overwhelmingly aligned: A closure of the southern border with Mexico would be catastrophic for economic activity and the supply chains of multiple industries including the automotive sector. Manufacturing and maquiladora plants in Mexico, owned by corporations in the US, are a backbone to their supply chain.
Towards the end of the week, President Trump postponed the closure for a year claiming he would allow Mexico to shore up the flow of immigrants from Central America and drugs claiming that if things did not improve he would impose tariffs on the automotive sector and its parts manufacturers in Mexico.
For the most part, executive search consultants work as trusted advisors to organizations worldwide across industries, helping them to attract top executive talent, advising their boards and developing their internal talent for leadership roles. They are thus in a unique position to measure the temperature of global business, identify talent trends, and point to new opportunities in the market. So far, what executive search consultants have seen is that top executives involved in the manufacturing sector continue to be cautious and observant of the trade issues pushed by the Trump administration but have already gotten accustomed to rhetoric and are unphased in their planning.