Citadel’s Ken Griffin says Trump’s tariffs could lead to crony capitalism

Citadel’s Ken Griffin says Trump’s tariffs could lead to crony capitalism


Ken Griffin, chief executive officer and founder of Citadel Advisors LLC, speaks during an Economic Club of New York event in New York, US, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.

Yuki Iwamura | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Citadel CEO Ken Griffin issued a warning against the steep tariffs President-elect Donald Trump vowed to implement, saying crony capitalism could be a consequence.

“I am gravely concerned that the rise of tariffs puts us on a slippery slope towards crony capitalism,” the billionaire investor said Thursday at the Economic Club of New York.

The Citadel founder said domestic companies could enjoy a short-term benefit of having their competitors taken away. Longer term, however, it does more harm to corporate America and the economy as companies lose competitiveness and productivity, he said.

Crony capitalism is an economic system marked by close, mutually advantageous relationships between business leaders and government officials.

“Those same companies that enjoy that momentary sugar rush of having their competitors removed from the battlefield soon become complacent, soon take for granted their newfound economic superiority, and frankly, they become less competitive on both the world stage and less competitive at meeting the needs of the American consumer,” Griffin said at the event.

Trump made universal tariffs a core tenet of his economic campaign pitch, floating a 20% levy on all imports from all countries with a specifically harsh 60% rate for Chinese goods.

The protectionist trade policy could make production of goods more expensive and raise consumer prices, just as the world recovers from pandemic-era inflation spikes.

“Now you’re going to find the halls of Washington really filled with the special interest groups and the lobbyists as people look for continued higher and higher tariffs to keep away foreign competition, and to protect inefficient American businesses that have failed to meet the needs of the American consumer,” Griffin said.

At the same event, Griffin also said he’s not focused on taking Citadel Securities public in the foreseeable future. Citadel is a market maker founded by Griffin in 2002.

“We’re focused on building the business, on investing in our future. And we do believe that there are benefits to being private during this period of very, very rapid growth,” he said.



Source

Inside the trade war’s tariff hideouts, ‘foreign’ zones and bonded warehouses
World

Inside the trade war’s tariff hideouts, ‘foreign’ zones and bonded warehouses

To offset the rising costs of tariffs and trade war uncertainty, companies are using U.S. Customs-sanctioned foreign trade zones (FTZs) and bonded warehouses to delay or reduce product taxes. FTZs have a long history dating back to a previous period of trade conflict, created during the Great Depression by Congress to encourage international trade and […]

Read More
The markets are telling you not to worry with steep drop in volatility. Should you listen?
World

The markets are telling you not to worry with steep drop in volatility. Should you listen?

As midsummer sets in and the trauma of the springtime sell-off fades, the markets are whispering, “Don’t worry.” With every orderly ratchet higher to a record high in the benchmark indexes, affirmed by a breakout in bitcoin as gold sleeps, a steep retreat in market volatility and a collapse in corporate-credit spreads, the investment universe […]

Read More
I’m a sex therapist: These 4 things ‘quietly kill intimacy’—most of them are ‘hiding in plain sight’
World

I’m a sex therapist: These 4 things ‘quietly kill intimacy’—most of them are ‘hiding in plain sight’

Many couples see intimacy as a “nice to have” in relationships. It’s sweet when it’s there, but not essential. This is especially true after the honeymoon period wears off. As a sex therapist and psychotherapist with over two decades of experience, I’m here to tell you that’s wrong. Intimacy is the heartbeat of a thriving relationship. […]

Read More