Page 25 - ARUBA TODAY

BUSINESS Monday 10 February 2020
A25

Administration ends antitrust probe of 4 automakers, California

By MARCY GORDON and the president and his wea-
MICHAEL BALSAMO ponization of federal agen-
Associated Press cies." California's author-
WASHINGTON (AP) — The ity to set its own, tougher
Trump administration has emissions standards dates
ended its antitrust probe back to a waiver issued by
into a deal between Cali- Congress during passage
fornia and four of the of the Clean Air Act in 1970.
world's biggest automak- The state has long pushed
ers, after failing to find that automakers to adopt more
the companies' conduct fuel-efficient passenger
violated the law. vehicles that emit less pol-
The Justice Department's lution.
investigation, which started About a dozen states and
last fall, had aimed to de- the District of Columbia
termine whether antitrust also follow California's fuel
laws were violated by Ford, economy standards.
Honda, Volkswagen and The deal struck by the
BMW in reaching the July state and the automakers
deal with California. bypassed the administra-
Under the deal, the auto- tion's plan to freeze emis-
makers planned to comply sions and fuel economy
with pollution and related standards adopted under
mileage requirements es- In this Jan. 5, 2016, file photo, traffic crosses the Golden Gate Bridge in the rain in this view from President Obama at 2021
tablished by California that Sausalito, Calif. Associated Press levels.q
are tougher than the fed-
eral standards sought by back.
President Donald Trump. Democrats accused the Economic impact of virus widens as
The Justice Department administration of using an-
didn't find conduct violat- titrust powers to target po- Ericsson exits trade show
ing the law and has closed litical opponents with the
the investigation, a person investigation. By The Associated Press policy, “could lead to ening billions in losses and
familiar with the matter told A top Justice Department BEIJING (AP) — More than disruptions in China that keeping millions of would-
The Associated Press on Fri- official defended the a month after the out- spill over to the rest of the be travelers at home.
day. probe before Congress break of China’s deadly global economy.” The Trump administration
The person spoke on condi- and denied any political virus, the economic dam- Economists note that the acknowledged Friday that
tion of anonymity because motivation or influence age is being felt by more longer the outbreak and the virus may delay some
they weren't authorized to from the White House. businesses and is threat- the lockdown of Wuhan of the purchases of U.S.
speak publicly. California Gov. Gavin New- ening the outlook for the and other Chinese cities goods China is supposed
In September, the adminis- som, a Democrat, said Fri- global economy. last, the worse the dam- to make under an interim
tration revoked California's day that the Justice De- In a report Friday, the Fed- age will likely be for a trade deal with the United
authority to set auto mile- partment's "trumped-up eral Reserve warned that global economy that de- States. But Larry Kudlow,
age standards, asserting charges were always a the virus represents an in- pends on supply chains President Donald Trump’s
that only the federal gov- sham — a blatant attempt ternational risk. that link China with trad- top economic adviser,
ernment has the power to by the Trump administration “The recent emergence ing partners around the said that President Xi Jin-
regulate greenhouse gas to prevent more automak- of the coronavirus,” the world. The viral outbreak ping had assured Trump
emissions and fuel econo- ers from joining California Fed said in a semian- has thrown the travel in- that China would meet
my. and agreeing to stronger nual report on monetary dustry into chaos, threat- the purchase target.q
Top California officials and emissions standards."
environmental groups took Newsom called the closing
legal action to stop the roll- of the probe "a big loss for